quinta-feira, 31 de janeiro de 2013
RC44 season gets underway in Oman
Fonte: RC44
30 January 2013, Muscat, Oman: After a breezy practice race that had blown away the cobwebs after a three month break, conditions were more gentle for the start of the RC44 Oman Cup presented Oman Shipping Company.
With the race course just outside of The Wave Muscat’s marina complex, it was Katusha who relished the conditions at the events only day of match racing, finishing the day unbeaten. New tactician Andy Horton took the helm and held off some tough competition including 2012 RC44 Match Race Champions, Synergy Russian Sailing team, he clearly enjoyed the day. “It was awesome, what a day for it to all come together, the pieces of the team just seemed to fall in to place. We had 4-11 knots of breeze with six races seven flights in total, no other boat in the world would you get that many races in 4-10 knots of breeze and be on the dock by 4pm!”
It wasn’t just the professional sailors who shone on the day where either the pros or owners can opt to helm; Brian Benjamin joined the class at the end of 2012 having purchased the old ORACLERacing and for the first event of the season, class founder Russell Coutts is sailing with Team Aegir. Benjamin is helming both the match and fleet racing. The team finished the day with four wins and just two losses as the newest owner in the class explained. “Today was pretty cool, we enjoyed it a lot. We have never won a match race before so beating Ed (Baird) was very satisfying. After that we were on a bit of a roll and won three more matches before letting the last one go, but we had a really good day, the crew learnt a lot and I learnt a lot being at the helm for the entire day.”
Synergy also finished the day with a 4-2 scoreline, losing two matches to Aegir and Katusha. Out of the 13 boats, half the owners took the helm today. Another top performer was Igor Lah at the helm of Team CEEREF with Michele Ivaldi calling the shots. The Slovenian team won three of their five matches.
The French Lunajets Aleph Team match against Team Aqua proved to be the most exciting of the day. Rounding the final windward mark the French team were ahead of Aqua but a penalty down. As they approached the finish line they slowed, Aqua responded trying to match their every move. Both teams ended up the wrong side of the finish line, with Aqua then infringing Aleph as they tried to squeeze between their opposition and the finishing bouy. Their red penalty flag gave the win to Aleph.
The RC44’s crash bows, designed to take an impact and not damage the hull, also came into good effect in Team Aqua’s race against Ironbound. Chris Bake had successfully shut David Murphy’s Ironbound out at the committee boat in the pre-start, Murphy dipped to try and release himself from the situation, but just caught Team Aqua’s stern. Ironbound were deducted two points for the damage, Team Nika were also penalised and deducted 3 points in another incident.
Oman Sail are hosting the event at The Wave, Muscat. Although the class has raced the region before, this is their first time in Oman, and the fleet are clearly enjoying the new venue.
Thursday sees the start of four days of fleet racing for the RC44 Oman Cup presented by Oman Shipping; follow the racing live on the race blog on www.rc44.com.
30 January 2013, Muscat, Oman: After a breezy practice race that had blown away the cobwebs after a three month break, conditions were more gentle for the start of the RC44 Oman Cup presented Oman Shipping Company.
With the race course just outside of The Wave Muscat’s marina complex, it was Katusha who relished the conditions at the events only day of match racing, finishing the day unbeaten. New tactician Andy Horton took the helm and held off some tough competition including 2012 RC44 Match Race Champions, Synergy Russian Sailing team, he clearly enjoyed the day. “It was awesome, what a day for it to all come together, the pieces of the team just seemed to fall in to place. We had 4-11 knots of breeze with six races seven flights in total, no other boat in the world would you get that many races in 4-10 knots of breeze and be on the dock by 4pm!”
It wasn’t just the professional sailors who shone on the day where either the pros or owners can opt to helm; Brian Benjamin joined the class at the end of 2012 having purchased the old ORACLERacing and for the first event of the season, class founder Russell Coutts is sailing with Team Aegir. Benjamin is helming both the match and fleet racing. The team finished the day with four wins and just two losses as the newest owner in the class explained. “Today was pretty cool, we enjoyed it a lot. We have never won a match race before so beating Ed (Baird) was very satisfying. After that we were on a bit of a roll and won three more matches before letting the last one go, but we had a really good day, the crew learnt a lot and I learnt a lot being at the helm for the entire day.”
Synergy also finished the day with a 4-2 scoreline, losing two matches to Aegir and Katusha. Out of the 13 boats, half the owners took the helm today. Another top performer was Igor Lah at the helm of Team CEEREF with Michele Ivaldi calling the shots. The Slovenian team won three of their five matches.
The French Lunajets Aleph Team match against Team Aqua proved to be the most exciting of the day. Rounding the final windward mark the French team were ahead of Aqua but a penalty down. As they approached the finish line they slowed, Aqua responded trying to match their every move. Both teams ended up the wrong side of the finish line, with Aqua then infringing Aleph as they tried to squeeze between their opposition and the finishing bouy. Their red penalty flag gave the win to Aleph.
The RC44’s crash bows, designed to take an impact and not damage the hull, also came into good effect in Team Aqua’s race against Ironbound. Chris Bake had successfully shut David Murphy’s Ironbound out at the committee boat in the pre-start, Murphy dipped to try and release himself from the situation, but just caught Team Aqua’s stern. Ironbound were deducted two points for the damage, Team Nika were also penalised and deducted 3 points in another incident.
Oman Sail are hosting the event at The Wave, Muscat. Although the class has raced the region before, this is their first time in Oman, and the fleet are clearly enjoying the new venue.
Thursday sees the start of four days of fleet racing for the RC44 Oman Cup presented by Oman Shipping; follow the racing live on the race blog on www.rc44.com.
quarta-feira, 30 de janeiro de 2013
segunda-feira, 28 de janeiro de 2013
4th Dragon Winter Series
Com as tripulações Russas a dominarem o evento, conquistando os dois lugares cimeiros do podio, terminou ontem a 4ª série das Cascais Dragon Winter Series, evento que já é um grande sucesso no calendário desta classe. Foram 36 tripulações que disputaram esta série, antecipando a competição que irá acontecer no Europeu em Abril.
No 1º dia de regatas, com o vento a soprar forte de Noroeste, a tripulação doDrago, de José Matoso, Frederico Pinheiro de Melo e Gustavo Lima mostrou que será uma das favoritas na disputa do Campeonato da Europa, vencendo as duas regatas realizadas e terminando o dia no 1º lugar.
No sábado foi a vez das tripulações Russas brilharem com o Strange Little Girl de Dmitri Samokin, Andrey Kirilyuk e Aleksey Bushuev a vencerem a primeira regata, o Annapurna de Anatoly Loginov, Vadim Satsenko eAlexander Shalagin a vencer a 2ª regata e o Murka de Igor Goihkber, Roman Sadchykov e Dmitry Berezkin a vencer a 3ª regata.
No último dia assistiu-se a mais uma vitória Portuguesa. Na penúltima regata da série foi o Christmas, com Rui Bóia, Jorge Ferlov e José Gonçalves a cruzar a linha de chegada à frente da frota. Mas na última regata os Russos voltaram às vitórias com o Annapurna, que venceu a regata e conquistou o título do evento. Em 2º lugar ficou o Strange Little Girl, e em 3º o Drago.
Resultados
RC44 Championship Tour enters its seventh season
Fonte: RC44
The seventh season of RC44 Championship Tour is about to kick off with the RC44 Oman Cup presented by Oman Shipping Company and hosted by Oman Sail. Anticipation amongst the 13 competing teams is growing; who can stop Team Aqua taking the Championship for the third year in a row. Who will master the conditions in Oman, a venue that most are unfamiliar with and who will be the most consistent team this season, in a race format where no individual races can be discarded, you have to count four out of the season’s five events and the final event that doubles as the World Championships cannot be discarded.
The event format remains the same in 2013, one day of match racing where the pros or owners can steer followed by four days of fleet racing where only the amateur owner can helm. 50% of the team has to be amateur and with this season spanning 10 months, the teams must continue to improve throughout the season and keep sharp over a long time period to win.
Chris Bake’s Team Aqua have been the victors of the last two RC44 seasons, Bake’s long term tactician Cameron Appleton knows what they will be looking for this season. “As always we will look to have continuous improvement in all areas of our program, whether they are large or small refinements in how we race these boats in the toughest one design class.” And are they expecting the result to be the same. “We would like to be in the same position as last year but know we need to approach things differently to be able to get to the next level above the other teams.”
This year the multinational crew on Team Aqua is extending their youth programme to young sailors from nations across the world. The first youth member to join the team in Oman will be Michael Boucher, 20, from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme, a scheme two of the team, Cameron Appleton and Andy Estcourt, graduated from. The team will then give the experience to sailors from Denmark, the UK and USA – the countries represented within the crew of Team Aqua.
Having dominated the Match Racing in 2013 Valentin Zavadnikov’s Synergy Russian Sailing Team are not making any changes to their crew, American match racer Ed Baird will be calling tactics for the second year.
John Bassadone’s Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team won the final event in 2012, and were crowned 2012 RC44 World Champions, their only crew change will be Gustavo Martinez Doreste standing in as tactician for the first event of the season. Boat Captain, German Panei revealed their team’s goals for the season. “We are always working to improve, last season was a great success; we improved race by race, with a fourth place in the Championship Tour and a win at the World Championships. This year we will fight to be on the podium at the end of the season and we will try to repeat the performance at the World Championship last season.”
Stepping into their first full RC44 season is Brian Benjamin’s Aegir Racing (GBR). The team will be joined for the season’s opener by class founder Russell Coutts. Benjamin is used to winning in his mini maxi, but how does he see his team faring in the RC44 class. “We would like to win of course! But we would be happy this year if we can consistently be in the top five boats. I’m really looking forward to Oman having never sailed in that part of the world before.”
Another team who are not underestimating the competition this season is Igor Lah’s Team CEEREF. “With the class getting more and more competitive it gets also more difficult to keep track of good results”. The team is not planning any major changes to their crew in 2013 and tactician Michele Ivaldi is looking forward to sailing somewhere new. “The RC44 circuit is going back to the Middle East and it is a very good thing for the class and for the sport of sailing in general. I have never been to Oman and I am looking forward to visiting Muscat and enjoying the brilliant sailing conditions I have been told about.”
Two more new professional sailors will join the Tour; 2008 Olympic gold medallist Paul Goodison (GBR) will join David Murphy’s Ironbound and former America’s Cup helmsman Flavio Flavini will be calling the shots on the newly named Team Italia.
Oman Sail will play host to the RC44 Class from their headquarters at The Wave, Muscat. “Oman is proud to be staging the RC44 Oman Cup at Oman’s elite sailing venue,” said David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail. “While Oman Sail aims to reignite Oman’s maritime heritage, from helping to show its youth the attraction of water sports, up to developing its top sailors into Olympians and participants in the other pinnacles of sailboat racing, hosting regattas for classes such as the RC44 clearly has the potential for bringing wider reaching economic benefits to the country.”
Oman Sail actively promotes Oman as a premier venue and host country for high profile sailing events with EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour, Mussanah Race Week – both created by Oman Sail – and the Extreme Sailing Series Muscat already well established. In 2013 the Laser World Championships will be held in Oman for the first time.
Also supporting the 2013 RC44 Oman Cup is Muscat Municipality. The RC44 Cup will be one of the key events taking place during The Muscat Festival (30 January – 28 February) a cultural, artistic and entertainment festival that will give the RC44 sailors and guests an opportunity to explore Oman trough numerous activities.
Racing at the RC44 Oman Cup presented by Oman Shipping Company will start on Wednesday 30 January 2013 at 11.30 GST (0730 GMT) with the final day of racing Sunday 3rd February. Follow the racing on the live blog at www.rc44.com.
Azzurra Wins in Key West
Fonte: http://www.52superseries.com
Given that the final day of Quantum Key West 2103 started with the two top teams Azzurra and Rán Racing tied on points it is appropriate the overall winner emerged after the most dramatic and closest day of racing. Whilst errors and bad luck afflicted several key teams in the brisk breezes delivering a great last day finale, it was the defending 52 SUPER SERIES champions Azzurra who kept it tight on board and sailed smart for the 2012 champions to open their 2013 account with the regatta victory.
Azzurra’s Key West Regatta starter was lobster, their second course humble pie but they finished with champagne.
Azzurra’s bad luck or misdemeanours were at the beginning of the week and indeed they may have learned from them. They hooked a lobster pot on Day 1 and had to make penalty turns on Day 2. But the iconic crew from the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda were on blistering form when they won the first race of the day, during which both of their main rivals, Niklas Zennström’s Rán Racing and Doug DeVos’ Quantum Racing, both blunted their respective challenges with their own problems.
Whilst Azzurra won the first contest, Race 9 of 10, it was Quantum Racing which was first to struggle. Starting the day with a deficit of just one point on the leading duo’s overall tally, the disappointment was palpable when, only minutes after the start, Quantum Racing’s J2 jib split three metres down from the head. It took the crew some time to retrieve the halyard from the top of the rig. Although they dropped to sixth initially they did managed to recover one place.
Rán Racing were in contention when they dropped their spinnaker in the water at the first leeward mark. They also took several minutes to sort out the mess, slowed to a dead standstill with the sail filled with water. Their resultant sixth place effectively handed the Quantum Key West 2013 title to race winners Azzurra.
“ We knew that the first race was going to be the important one.” Recalled skipper-helm Guillermo Parada: “ At one stage we were a little bit lucky at the first leeward mark because Rán Racing dropped their spinnaker in the water and Quantum Racing had their problem with their jib earlier. That opened the door for us to go all out to win the race rather than trying to control our opposition. So from there on we were really focused on sailing every shift rather than trying to keep control of these two boats. We were able to win the race and they were fifth and sixth. We had already clinched the regatta. But we are always focusing on the season’s standings and so we want to beat Rán Racing and Quantum Racing when we can.”
Quantum Racing’s torn jib left them without the key headsail not only through that race but for Race 10 too, which was contested in 11-15kts, even more in the range of the required sail. Project manager Ed Reynolds responds:
“We were flying, launched off the start line. But we had been pushing the J2 jib well above its range but we were just flying. There is a small bleed in the backstay which just loads up the luff of the jib and it just went beyond. We were seriously red lined on that jib, but you just keep trying. A lot of what we do with this programme is to see. We know we are not going to get fired for anything, so we just keep pushing.”
Going into the final race it was a battle for second and third places with Rán Racing and Quantum Racing tied on points and Austin and Gwen Fragomen’s Botin Partners designed Interlodge one point behind.
After a great start Interlodge were quick to exploit the extra pressure and favourable lift on the right side of the course, leading around the windward mark ahead of Azzurra. Their win, the second of the regatta, with Rán Racing third and Quantum Racing taking their second fifth place in a row, ensured that it was Interlodge, 2-1 for the day, which stole second step on the podium at their first ever 52 SUPER SERIES regatta, with Rán Racing third.
Key West’s winds were even better than usual for the first visit of the 52 SUPER SERIES, ensuring that not only were all 10 races sailed but the average wind speed over the five days of racing would certainly be 12 knots or more. That the 52 SUPER SERIES regatta was blessed with fabulous sunshine and warm temperatures are just two more reasons why owners and crews look forward to a return here.
Results, 52 SUPER SERIES at Quantum Key West 2013
Race 9. 1 Azzurra (ITA) 2 Interlodge (USA) 3 Gladiator (GBR) 4 Rio (USA) 5 Quantum Racing (USA) 6 Rán Racing (SWE).
Race 10. 1 Interlodge 2 Azzurra 3Rio4 Rán Racing 5 Quantum Racing 6 Gladiator
Overall after 10 races
1 Azzurra 24pts, 2 Interlodge 29pts 3 Rán Racing 31pts, 4 Quantum Racing 32pts, 5 Gladiator 42pts, 6Rio52pts
Quotes
Guillermo Parada (ARG) skipper-helm Azzurra (ITA): “ We knew that the first race was going to be the important one. At one stage we were a little bit lucky at the first leeward mark because Rán Racing dropped their spinnaker in the water and Quantum Racing had their problem with their jib earlier. That opened the door for us to go all out to win the race rather than trying to control our opposition. So from there on we were really focused on sailing every shift rather than trying to keep control of these two boats. We were able to win the race and they were fifth and sixth. We had already clinched the regatta. But we are always focusing on the season’s standings and so we want to beat Rán Racing and Quantum Racing when we can.”
Kris Matthews (USA), project manager Interlodge (USA). “It is a little bit of a surprise to finish second overall. We limited our mistakes and a few teams had their mistakes in the first race and that opened up an opportunity in Race 2 we got away clean and were able to sail our own race then. We did know what to expect coming into the regatta. We though mid fleet was a goal but we thought it would be hard to match the Rán Racing, Quantum Racing, Azzurra and Gladiator, with their time in the boats. We decided we were doing this regatta five months ago and so we did a lot of sailing last fall and got better.”
Adrian Stead (GBR) tactician Rán Racing (SWE): “For us it was a bit of a disappointing end to the regatta. We were in contention on the first race and unfortunately the drop line snagged and we sailed right over the spinnaker and that was pretty much the end of the race by the time recovered it and so it was a sixth from that one and that kind of gave the series to Azzurra. The second race Interlodge sailed really well. We were fighting for third, trying to keep Quantum Racing behind us as well. We are philosophical. We let ourselves down at the gate not getting the spinnaker down but everyone is pushing the bottom marks pretty hard. This time we did not get away with it. We have come a long way since the beginning of the week. And we are looking to going racing in Miami at the World Championships. We are very positive about where we have got to this week.”
Doug DeVos (USA) owner-driver Quantum Racing (USA): “It was a tough day for us. It started off really well when we had a chance of first place and were ready to go for it and then we blew up our jib and were never able to recover. That was the job we needed even more in the second race. We were sailing a little out wack, after one little thing seems to happen then other things follow and away it goes. The team dealt with well. It happens in sport. You deal with and have to stay positive, looking for opportunities.”
Ed Reynolds (USA) coach, team director Quantum Racing (USA): “We were flying, launched off the start line. But we had been pushing the J2 jib well above its range but we were just flying. There is a small bleed in the backstay which juts loads up the luff of the jib and it just went beyond. We were seriously red lined on that jib, but you just keep trying. A lot of what we do with this programme is to see. We know we are not going to get fired for anything, so we just keep pushing. It was the standard J2, we pushed film things a little light but we figure if we are going to try we do it on ourselves. This is an important regatta, it is great sailing but the European 52 SUPER SERIES is what we want.
Chris Larson (USA) tactician Gladiator (GBR): “ The scoreline is pretty indicative of the windstrength for us. The first couple of days were under 13-14kts which plays to our strengths and so we had some good racing then, and after that when it gets to 17-18kts versus the new boats. We had some good races, we got in there and had some decent finishes in some of them. But we were in there in the pack most of the time and today most of the way around the race track we were in it. I think in general where the programme was one year ago at the first regatta we are doing well.”
Manouch Moshayedi (USA) Rio (USA): “ We improved a lot from the beginning of week, our goal was to learn the boat and in the eight days of sailing in total here I think we’ve made great progress. Getting around the top mark in front of the pack has proven that we have the potential to beat these guys, and our eyes have been opened that we have now a very good boat. It was great to end the week on a high note, we are looking forward to Miami, and hope to start of there where we ended here to keep learning and improving.”
Given that the final day of Quantum Key West 2103 started with the two top teams Azzurra and Rán Racing tied on points it is appropriate the overall winner emerged after the most dramatic and closest day of racing. Whilst errors and bad luck afflicted several key teams in the brisk breezes delivering a great last day finale, it was the defending 52 SUPER SERIES champions Azzurra who kept it tight on board and sailed smart for the 2012 champions to open their 2013 account with the regatta victory.
Azzurra’s Key West Regatta starter was lobster, their second course humble pie but they finished with champagne.
Azzurra’s bad luck or misdemeanours were at the beginning of the week and indeed they may have learned from them. They hooked a lobster pot on Day 1 and had to make penalty turns on Day 2. But the iconic crew from the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda were on blistering form when they won the first race of the day, during which both of their main rivals, Niklas Zennström’s Rán Racing and Doug DeVos’ Quantum Racing, both blunted their respective challenges with their own problems.
Whilst Azzurra won the first contest, Race 9 of 10, it was Quantum Racing which was first to struggle. Starting the day with a deficit of just one point on the leading duo’s overall tally, the disappointment was palpable when, only minutes after the start, Quantum Racing’s J2 jib split three metres down from the head. It took the crew some time to retrieve the halyard from the top of the rig. Although they dropped to sixth initially they did managed to recover one place.
Rán Racing were in contention when they dropped their spinnaker in the water at the first leeward mark. They also took several minutes to sort out the mess, slowed to a dead standstill with the sail filled with water. Their resultant sixth place effectively handed the Quantum Key West 2013 title to race winners Azzurra.
“ We knew that the first race was going to be the important one.” Recalled skipper-helm Guillermo Parada: “ At one stage we were a little bit lucky at the first leeward mark because Rán Racing dropped their spinnaker in the water and Quantum Racing had their problem with their jib earlier. That opened the door for us to go all out to win the race rather than trying to control our opposition. So from there on we were really focused on sailing every shift rather than trying to keep control of these two boats. We were able to win the race and they were fifth and sixth. We had already clinched the regatta. But we are always focusing on the season’s standings and so we want to beat Rán Racing and Quantum Racing when we can.”
Quantum Racing’s torn jib left them without the key headsail not only through that race but for Race 10 too, which was contested in 11-15kts, even more in the range of the required sail. Project manager Ed Reynolds responds:
“We were flying, launched off the start line. But we had been pushing the J2 jib well above its range but we were just flying. There is a small bleed in the backstay which just loads up the luff of the jib and it just went beyond. We were seriously red lined on that jib, but you just keep trying. A lot of what we do with this programme is to see. We know we are not going to get fired for anything, so we just keep pushing.”
Going into the final race it was a battle for second and third places with Rán Racing and Quantum Racing tied on points and Austin and Gwen Fragomen’s Botin Partners designed Interlodge one point behind.
After a great start Interlodge were quick to exploit the extra pressure and favourable lift on the right side of the course, leading around the windward mark ahead of Azzurra. Their win, the second of the regatta, with Rán Racing third and Quantum Racing taking their second fifth place in a row, ensured that it was Interlodge, 2-1 for the day, which stole second step on the podium at their first ever 52 SUPER SERIES regatta, with Rán Racing third.
Key West’s winds were even better than usual for the first visit of the 52 SUPER SERIES, ensuring that not only were all 10 races sailed but the average wind speed over the five days of racing would certainly be 12 knots or more. That the 52 SUPER SERIES regatta was blessed with fabulous sunshine and warm temperatures are just two more reasons why owners and crews look forward to a return here.
Results, 52 SUPER SERIES at Quantum Key West 2013
Race 9. 1 Azzurra (ITA) 2 Interlodge (USA) 3 Gladiator (GBR) 4 Rio (USA) 5 Quantum Racing (USA) 6 Rán Racing (SWE).
Race 10. 1 Interlodge 2 Azzurra 3Rio4 Rán Racing 5 Quantum Racing 6 Gladiator
Overall after 10 races
1 Azzurra 24pts, 2 Interlodge 29pts 3 Rán Racing 31pts, 4 Quantum Racing 32pts, 5 Gladiator 42pts, 6Rio52pts
Quotes
Guillermo Parada (ARG) skipper-helm Azzurra (ITA): “ We knew that the first race was going to be the important one. At one stage we were a little bit lucky at the first leeward mark because Rán Racing dropped their spinnaker in the water and Quantum Racing had their problem with their jib earlier. That opened the door for us to go all out to win the race rather than trying to control our opposition. So from there on we were really focused on sailing every shift rather than trying to keep control of these two boats. We were able to win the race and they were fifth and sixth. We had already clinched the regatta. But we are always focusing on the season’s standings and so we want to beat Rán Racing and Quantum Racing when we can.”
Kris Matthews (USA), project manager Interlodge (USA). “It is a little bit of a surprise to finish second overall. We limited our mistakes and a few teams had their mistakes in the first race and that opened up an opportunity in Race 2 we got away clean and were able to sail our own race then. We did know what to expect coming into the regatta. We though mid fleet was a goal but we thought it would be hard to match the Rán Racing, Quantum Racing, Azzurra and Gladiator, with their time in the boats. We decided we were doing this regatta five months ago and so we did a lot of sailing last fall and got better.”
Adrian Stead (GBR) tactician Rán Racing (SWE): “For us it was a bit of a disappointing end to the regatta. We were in contention on the first race and unfortunately the drop line snagged and we sailed right over the spinnaker and that was pretty much the end of the race by the time recovered it and so it was a sixth from that one and that kind of gave the series to Azzurra. The second race Interlodge sailed really well. We were fighting for third, trying to keep Quantum Racing behind us as well. We are philosophical. We let ourselves down at the gate not getting the spinnaker down but everyone is pushing the bottom marks pretty hard. This time we did not get away with it. We have come a long way since the beginning of the week. And we are looking to going racing in Miami at the World Championships. We are very positive about where we have got to this week.”
Doug DeVos (USA) owner-driver Quantum Racing (USA): “It was a tough day for us. It started off really well when we had a chance of first place and were ready to go for it and then we blew up our jib and were never able to recover. That was the job we needed even more in the second race. We were sailing a little out wack, after one little thing seems to happen then other things follow and away it goes. The team dealt with well. It happens in sport. You deal with and have to stay positive, looking for opportunities.”
Ed Reynolds (USA) coach, team director Quantum Racing (USA): “We were flying, launched off the start line. But we had been pushing the J2 jib well above its range but we were just flying. There is a small bleed in the backstay which juts loads up the luff of the jib and it just went beyond. We were seriously red lined on that jib, but you just keep trying. A lot of what we do with this programme is to see. We know we are not going to get fired for anything, so we just keep pushing. It was the standard J2, we pushed film things a little light but we figure if we are going to try we do it on ourselves. This is an important regatta, it is great sailing but the European 52 SUPER SERIES is what we want.
Chris Larson (USA) tactician Gladiator (GBR): “ The scoreline is pretty indicative of the windstrength for us. The first couple of days were under 13-14kts which plays to our strengths and so we had some good racing then, and after that when it gets to 17-18kts versus the new boats. We had some good races, we got in there and had some decent finishes in some of them. But we were in there in the pack most of the time and today most of the way around the race track we were in it. I think in general where the programme was one year ago at the first regatta we are doing well.”
Manouch Moshayedi (USA) Rio (USA): “ We improved a lot from the beginning of week, our goal was to learn the boat and in the eight days of sailing in total here I think we’ve made great progress. Getting around the top mark in front of the pack has proven that we have the potential to beat these guys, and our eyes have been opened that we have now a very good boat. It was great to end the week on a high note, we are looking forward to Miami, and hope to start of there where we ended here to keep learning and improving.”
Nacra 17s and 49er FXes in Miami
Fonte: The Daily Sail
In less than one week the second of four 2012-2013 ISAF Sailing World Cup Regattas will get going in Miami, USA. Taking place over 28 January to 2 February on Biscayne the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami will feature the northern hemisphere debuts of the two new classes chosen for Rio 2016 - the Nacra 17 mixed catamaran and the women's 49er FX skiff.
The Nacra 17 entrants feature some exciting young talent coming through the ranks as well as experienced campaigners. Puerto Rican multihull legend Enrique Figueroa is the most experienced sailor in the fleet with an Olympic career that goes back to Seoul 1988 where he finished 13th. Further Olympic appearances came at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 and now, he’s back.
Hopping on board with Figueroa is his wife, Carla Malatrasi and the pair will be aiming for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. “Even though the sport of sailing is a lot of fun, an Olympic campaign is serious business,” said Figueroa. “Once you start racing the focus changes from easy going sailing to full regatta mode and that is when the tension begins.
“We have been sailing together since 1993; there is always tension when you race specially among couples. At high level regattas maybe a little more tension than usual but with so many years under our belts we have learned to separate the racing part from the couple’s part. At the moment we are taking it one day at a time and trying to enjoy ourselves as much as we can.”
The talented couple won Hobie 16 gold together at the 1994 IYRU World Sailing Championship in La Rochelle, France and have experience and know-how that cannot be matched in the fleet. With a new boat to play with Figueroa is enjoying the task at hand, “We have only sailed the boat for a few hours last weekend but had a great time. Learning the boat and developing team work on new equipment is always a challenge. Different controls on the boat, curved foils, weight distribution, etc are among the more challenging aspects of the new Olympic catamaran.”
Among the Puerto Ricans competitors will be Canada’s Luke Ramsey, who sailed in the Men’s 470 at London 2012, and Nikola Girke, who jumps from the Women’s RS:X into the multihull.
Young Americans Taylor Reiss and Matthew Whitehead sailed the SL16 together at the 2011 ISAF Youth Worlds in Zadar, Croatia finishing sixth and have made the jump up to the Nacra 17. Reiss will be sailing with Sarah Lihan, who represented USA in the Women’s 470 at London 2012 whilst Whitehead will sail with 17-year-old Sarah Streater.
Other teams include former Women’s Match Racer Elizabeth Kratzig who joins Jonathan Farrar (USA), Lindsay and Dalton Bergan (USA) and Sarah Newberry and John Casey (USA).
While the Nacra 17 makes its debut on the international stage, the 49erFX makes its second appearance in the ISAF Sailing World Cup. For all competitors in the eight boat fleet it will be their first competitive action in the women’s skiff.
America’s Anna Tunnicliffe has teamed up with her former match racing crew Molly Vandemoer. Tunnicliffe has sailed on her own and as part of a trio at the Olympic Games and now she’s in a duo, and aiming for Rio 2016.
Joining Tunnicliffe and Vandemoer in the fleet is Italian pair Giulia Conti and Francesca Clapcich. Both sailors competed at London 2012 with Conti stepping away from the 470 and Clapcich taking the leap from Laser Radial to the 49erFX. With hours of winter training behind them on Lake Garda their in-depth preparations could see them pick up a podium finish.
Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) recently won gold at the 49erFX North American Championship as they got acclimatised to the venue. Despite early success in the boat Grael knows where her rivalries lay, “I think Anna and Italy’s Giulia Conti will be our greatest enemy. With light wind it is hard to say who is the best, but with a little more wind it will be difficult for all.”
Three Canadian crews, Erin Berry and Danielle Boyd, Laura Borden and Marie-Pier Alary and Kristine Williams and Jennifer Braem will join the fleet as will Americans Allie Blecher and Helena Scutt and Kristen Lane and Molly Carapiet.
Elsewhere in the regatta, Portuguese 49er Olympian Francisco Andrade will be teaming up with Andre Fonseca to fly the Brazilian flag in Miami whilst Swedish 470 Olympian Sebastian Ostling makes a transition from 470 to 49er to sail with Kalle Torlen. Both crews should be leading the pack as some fresh new faces amongst the 14 entrants are set to sail.
Ireland’s Annalise Murphy will get her Rio 2016 ambitions underway in Miami after she came so close to glory at London 2012. The Irish Radial star had led the fleet early on at London 2012 but in a winner takes all Medal Race she was knocked out of the podium places and into fourth. After taking two months off from sailing Murphy is back and keen to get back into things, "I didn't really feel like I messed up in the races,” said the 22-year-old. “I did have a great experience and its definitely kind of driving me, it's the reason I'm training harder than I was before, for Rio."
Joining Murphy in the fleet will be World #8 Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR), who at 34 and with four Olympics behind her is starting the familiar road to an Olympic Games. “Not all heights are reached yet,” said the Belarusian. “I have a childhood dream and I very much want to reach it. I go to every regatta with the highest aims and for Miami I am aiming for the podium.”
Drozdovskaya’s participation at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 has made a positive influence on sailing in Belarus and she wants that to continue, “People have learnt about sailing through my good results as all the previous thoughts were on rowing. I hope that children go sailing because I am often shown on TV.”
At just 24, Juan Ignacio Maegli (GUA) is one of the most seasoned sailors in the 71-boat Laser fleet having represented Guatemala at the last two Olympic Games. With a strong performance at London 2012 he will be one of the favourites in the young Miami fleet.
Among the Laser entrants are 2011 ISAF Youth Worlds podium finishers Zan Luka Zelko (SLO) and Giovanni Coccoluto (ITA). Both sailors have mixed it up in the senior ranks and will want to shine in the Miami sun.
A 30-boat Finn fleet will take to the water in Miami and will include three of the world’s top ten sailors in the ISAF Rankings. World #1 Brendan Casey (AUS) will come into the regatta as favourite having won gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne in December. Nonetheless with an experienced field that includes World #3 Zach Railey (USA), World #4 Caleb Paine (USA), Bruno Prada (BRA), Jorge Zarif (BRA) and Greg Douglas, the competition for podium places will be fierce.
London 2012 Olympic Games Men’s RS:X gold medallist Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) will be the favourite to take gold in the fleet of 22 in Miami. Just six months ago the Dutchman blitzed the Men’s RS:X fleet on the Weymouth and Portland waters and looked unstoppable. After a short break van Rijsselberge is excited to get back into the swing of things, “Miami is a nice event to start the next four years. It has been in my calendar for years so it is good to come back and compete. My aim is to have a fun regatta with my friends after having not competed for half year.”
Olympic experience features heavily in the fleet with the likes of Ricardo Santos (BRA), Zac Plavsic (CAN), Ivan Pastor (ESP), David Mier y Teran (MEX) and Sebastian Wang-Hansen (NOR) all hopeful of closing the gap.
2012 Kona World Champion Adam Holm (SWE) and 2010 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Michael Cheng (HKG), who both competed at the 2011 ISAF Youth Worlds, join the senior circuit and they will be aiming to impress.
Finland’s Tuuli Petaja recently won the Finnish athlete of the year award after her epic performance at London 2012 which saw her take a shock silver medal in the Women’s RS:X fleet. Petaja will swap the gown for the wet suit in Miami as the Olympic cycle gets going once again. Joining her in the fleet is Olympic gold medallist Marina Alabau (ESP), 2010 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Blanca Manchon (ESP) and Bryony Shaw (GBR). All will be capable of mixing it up at the top.
Fresh from their victories at the 470 North American Championships Austria’s Matthias Schmid and Florian Reichstaedter and Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar will compete in the Men’s and Women’s fleet at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami.
Both crews took a stranglehold of the competition over the weekend on the same waters so will be familiar with their surroundings.
Out to go for gold in the Men’s fleet are Canadian brothers Jacob and Graeme Chaplin-Saunders. The partnership got going in January 2011 with the ultimate goal of reaching Rio de Janeiro in 2016. London 2012 Olympian Stu McNay is set to team up with the experienced David Hughes which will make for a fantastic week of competition in the 11-boat fleet.
A strong Chinese contingent, including London 2012 Olympians Xiaoli Wang and Xufeng Huang, will test the Austrians in the Women’s 470. Brazil will also be well represented with Fernanda Olivera and Ana Luiz Barbachan continuing their partnership and Renata Decnop and Isabel Swan teaming up for the first time.
With strong entry lists in the Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX and Finn, it will be an exciting week of competition that gets underway on Monday 28 January with the Medal Races bringing the regatta to a close on 2 February.
quarta-feira, 23 de janeiro de 2013
Robert Sheidt chega à liderança
Fonte: VDS
Bruno Fontes caiu para a vice-colocação no campeonato que encerrará nesta quarta-feira
No penúltimo dia do Campeonato Brasileiro da classe Laser os ventos foram favoráveis para Robert Scheidt. Com duas vitórias obtidas nesta terça-feira, ele assume a liderança do campeonato após oito regatas realizadas no Veleiros do Sul, em Porto Alegre. Ele terminou a série de empates ao abrir uma vantagem de dois pontos sobre Bruno Fontes, que caiu para a vice-colocação e não foi bem nas regatas de hoje. O gaúcho melhor colocado é André Streppel, o Bizu (VDS), que subiu uma posição na súmula e agora é o quarto colocado.
Apesar de ser um dia exaustivo para os competidores que enfrentaram uma longa espera pelo vento e sob um sol forte no rio Guaíba, Robert Scheidt velejou com a habilidade de sempre. Chegou em terra com semblante cansado, mas feliz, e antes mesmo de desmontar o barco deu autógrafos. “Foi um dia excelente,” comentou. Na primeira regata do dia ele começou em segundo lugar, mas na perna do segundo popa do percurso de barlasota assumiu à frente.
“Aproveitei uma boa rajada na montagem de bóia e isso foi crucial para eu decidir a regata. Já na segunda prova larguei na frente e consegui defender a liderança até o final. Tecnicamente velejei bem nas regatas, apesar do vento muito rondado, que assim como pode facilitar a recuperação na competição também pode prejudicar”, disse Robert.
Com a descida para a vice-colocação no Brasileiro, Bruno Fontes lamentou os erros cometidos na raia. “Não velejei bem e fiz coisas erradas, além de ter tido na primeira regata um problema com o cabo da minha escota que se enroscou e prejudicou meu andamento. Na outra regata ocorreram algumas oportunidades de ultrapassar o Scheidt, arrisquei, não consegui e no final o Matheus ainda cruzou a linha em minha frente”, contou Bruno.
Não foi somente Robert que saiu feliz da água, Matheus Dellagnelo, terceiro colocado no Brasileiro também estava contente. Ele tem velejado sempre próximo aos líderes e hoje chegou em segundo lugar na última regata. Em 2011 Matheus foi campeão mundial de Sunfish e medalha de ouro nos Jogos Pan-americanos do México. Depois de uma ausência de dois anos na classe Laser voltou no ano passado e garantiu o título do Campeonato Sul-Brasileiro da classe também em Porto Alegre. Suas pretensões é chegar os Jogos do Rio 2016. “Tenho um programa de treinos específico para isso”, diz.
No Brasileiro de 4.7 a liderança é de Lucas Mazim que está três pontos na frente do segundo colocado, Henrique Dias. E Martin Lowy se mantém em terceiro. Júlia Silva a primeira na categoria feminina é a sexta colocada na classificação geral.
O dia foi penoso com a demorada espera pelo vento. Por volta das 16 horas começou a soprara de direção leste e 15 nós de intensidade, permitindo a realização de duas regatas no Guaíba. O Brasileiro de Laser encerrará nesta quarta-feira com as duas regatas finais a partir das 13 horas.
Classificação parcial da Standard – oito regatas (confira aqui a súmula completa)
1º Robert Scheidt (SP) 9
2º Bruno Fontes (SC) 11
3º Matheus Dellagnelo (SC) 21
4º André Streppel (RS) 41
5º Juan Pablo Bisio (ARG) 45
Classificação parcial na 4.7 – seis regatas
1º Lucas Mazim (RS) 8
2º Henrique Dias (RS) 11
3º Martin Lowy (SP) 13
4º Gabriel Elstrodt (SP) 22
5º Kim Vidal de Andrade (BA) 31
O 39º Campeonato Brasileiro da classe Laser encerrará nesta quarta-feira com as duas regatas finais a partir das 13 horas.
segunda-feira, 21 de janeiro de 2013
2013 "52 SUPER SERIES" is under Starter’s Orders in Key West
The 2013 "52 SUPER SERIES" starts Monday with two scheduled races at Quantum Key West regatta and if early indicators from the informal training races which have taken place over recent days are a yardstick then the established form teams might not have it all their own way.
With five days of windward-leeward racing planned, the six 52’s from both sides of the Atlantic, should enjoy a good range of wind conditions. Naturally the teams would choose to dial up the best Key West conditions, sunshine with 15-18kts of breeze and a useful sea state each and every day, but forecasters anticipate light airs to provide a gentle opening to a 52 fleet season which spans nine months and six regattas, two in the USA and four in Europe. And although the training days have seen overcast skies, and humid daytime weather, sunshine is promised.
Reigning 52 SUPER SERIES champions Azzurra have made a key change to their afterguard, bringing in Croatian Tomislav Basic. That his big strength is match racing does not directly indicate that the team which represents the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda are anticipating regular duels with Quantum Racing - such as characterised so much of last season - insists fiery tactician Vasco Vascotto (ITA) but having his skills in their armoury is just another component in their drive to cover every base:
“We were looking for someone who could bring us that match racing experience.”Vascotto emphasises, “ We want to be relaxed and know we can do what we need to if we get into that match race situation. We have that strength in our pocket. It is about being prepared but not necessarily a signal we are going in that direction. We are ready to ensure we are not weak on that side. We don’t want to be fighting like we did at the end of last season in Valencia, but we are ready.”
Quantum Racing (USA), who won their class here last year, have owner Doug DeVos steering here and at the World Championships in early March in Miami. Their long term goal is to win the 52 SuperSeries titles, but making sure DeVos – owner of the team and enthusiastic principal sponsor of the regatta – enjoys maximum satisfaction is part of the focus this week for skipper Ed Baird and the team:
“ The objective is to have a week which we can look back on and say: ‘ that was really good, that was fun’.” Baird leads, “ That is number one priority. If we won the event than that would be fabulous. But more importantly it is about just trying to get better every day and see where we end up.”
For each of the teams the drive is to maintain a high level of consistency from the very start of the season. Niklas Zennström’s RÁN, which finished third overall in 2012 and Tony Langley’s Gladiator have both taken different steps to enhance their challenge to the top two teams this season. Zennström says they are looking to simply cut down on the occasional but costly bad races, whilst Langley has made a fundamental change to the configuration of Gladiator. A new, deeper keel fin should get them on terms with the newest generation boats.
The American boats Interlodge (Austin Gwen Fragomen) and Rio (ex Synergy, Manouch Moshayedi) have already proven competitive in the tune up racing and both will be looking to repeat that when racing starts in earnest Monday:
Phip Halowell (USA), the upwind trimmer on Interlodge (USA), reports:
“We’ve been racing together for a year now, and I think we are fast and our corners will be fine. But the starts will be tough, so we worked on that today to learn to shift gears for positioning off the line. These other teams are really good, they won’t make mistakes, so we have to make sure we can be at the same level.”
Main trimmer and boat captain Keith Kilpatrick says the Rio team is working hard to learn the boat, which was just delivered to them in November as ex-Synergy.
“We felt we had reached a performance peak with the last boat, so getting this new boat that is a sistership to Quantum will give us the chance to be on the same level as the others. But we have to learn this boat, so this will be important for us this week.”
Weather for the week will be a good Key West mixture: everything from light to fresh to challenge the teams assembled here. The regatta will likely start out very light and patchy Monday but then things improve for the rest of the week. Conditions will become fresh on Tuesday and into early Wednesday. During the day on Wednesday, moderating winds are expected, but still could be fresh in strength up to 20 knots on Thursday. Easing winds are expected for the finale Friday when the wind veers more into a trade wind pattern, but still moderate in strength.
All of the action from the 52 SUPER SERIES is broadcast on www.52SuperSeries.comwith live tracking from Virtual Eye supplemented by live audio commentary.
Ed Reynolds (USA) project manager Quantum Racing (USA):
“ Ed Baird will do tactics and Andy Horton will do strategy and just integrate Doug (DeVos, owner). For all the commitments he makes, everything he has done for this event and for 52 SuperSeries this is our chance to make sure he has some fun. That is a major priority, but of course we always want to win. Also we are working on a lot of new technology with the sails. We have some new fibres we are testing here, a number of new films and that is also a big focus for us, making sure the next evolution is validated.”
Vasco Vascotto, ITA, tactician Azzurra (ITA/ARG):
“ It is great to have a couple of new boats here and we hope they will join us on the rest of the 52 SUPER SERIES. I feel like the class is going forwards again and I think that is important for the class.
I have sailed here for 15 years which means I am getting old, but I have never won here. I think I have been second four times. Let us see how we sail here. We are really happy with how we are sailing. The crew work is going very well and what we have done in this last period we are very happy with. We have lost Francesco Bruni to the America’s Cup, which is a shame for him really, but we have Tomislav who has joined the team. I am from Trieste and he is from Croatia, very close together. He is a very smart guy and learns very quickly. He brings us his match racing experience. He did the Olympic Games in the 470 and is a very good match racer. We have a good relationship and with this crew it is easy for him to come in. We trained together for the Louis Vuitton in New Zealand and he coached Francesco and I at that event. We were looking for someone who could bring us that match racing experience. We want to be relaxed and know we can do what we need to if we get into that match race situation. We have that strength in our pocket. It is about being prepared but not necessarily a signal we are going in that direction. We are ready to ensure we are not weak on that side. We don’t want to be fighting like we did at the end of last season in Valencia, but we are ready. We should see the breeze building through the week from the North, NNE, it will be a little shifty.
We have learned that everybody can win here. Interlodge won one of the training races here. So we know that we are all mostly at the same level so anyone can win races here. And that is what is nice about this class. Pressure is about someone who has to go and work at 5 am, who makes €1000 a month and have three children to feed.”
Niklas Zennström (SWE) skipper-helm RÁN (SWE):
“ We have had some good practice racing here. We have had a first and third in today’s training races, so we are in good shape and this is a lovely place to sail. This is the third time we have been here. We were here last year with the Mini-Maxi and in 2008 with the Ran 1 (original TP52). We like it here, it is a good place to sail and a nice regatta.
Last season we were third and now we are going to be doing everything we can to beat Quantum Racing and Azzurra, that is our target over the season. We can win but everyone has been getting better. Looking back at last year for us we are going to be about minimising mistakes. Last year we had a few really bad races which set us back. So for us, consistency is what we need to be better at.
It is great to be having six regattas this season. And it is nice to be starting here and it is great to have Interlodge and Rio here on the starting line. It also great to have mostly owner drivers competing here.”
Chris Larson (USA) tactician, Gladiator (USA):
“ We have had four days of good practice, lots of starts, picking up where we left off last year. Having good consistent scores here, making sure you are not last or next to last here and can stay in the top half of the fleet, that is what I am looking for here. I have been here about 20 or 22 times. On the big boat course here, versus the other two, the current in the shipping channel goes out and so there is some tidal effect.
We have made some changes to the boat and it is pretty impressive. We feel good, even if we have not had a lot of stability sailing yet. We feel like we can put the bow down a little more than we could before and sail a tenth of a knot or two faster for speed without losing VMG, which we could not do before with the old configuration. The newer boats can sail at a tenth or two faster and not lose VMG and we had to sail a high, slow VMG mode now we can put the bow down and compete and that’s exciting for us.”
Phip Halowell (USA): Upwind trimmer on Interlodge (USA):
“We’ve been racing together for a year now, and I think we are fast and our corners will be fine. But the starts will be tough, so we worked on that today to learn to shift gears for positioning off the line. These other teams are really good, they won’t make mistakes, so we have to make sure we can be at the same level.”
Keith Kilpatrick (USA) main trimmer and boat captain Rio (USA):
“We felt we had reached a performance peak with the last boat, so getting this new boat that is a sistership to Quantum will give us the chance to be on the same level as the others. But we have to learn this boat, so this will be important for us this week.”
52 SUPER SERIES 2013 Regatta Calendar:▪ Quantum Key West Race Week, Key West, Florida, January 20 – 25, 5 day WL racing, dual scoring IRC & 52 Super Series.
▪ 52 World Championship, Miami, Florida, March 5 – 9, 5 day WL racing, TP52s and IRC52s.
▪ Trofeo Conde de Godo, Barcelona, May 23 – 26, 4 day WL racing, IRC52s invited.
▪ Royal Cup, Ibiza, July 2 – 6, 4 day WL & 1 day Coastal, TP52s and IRC52s.
▪ Copa del Rey, Palma, July 29 – August 3, 6 day WL racing, dual scoring IRC & 52 Super Series.
▪ Audi Week Of The Straits, Porto Cervo, September 10 – 14, 3 day WL & 2 day Coastal, TP52s and IRC52s.
With five days of windward-leeward racing planned, the six 52’s from both sides of the Atlantic, should enjoy a good range of wind conditions. Naturally the teams would choose to dial up the best Key West conditions, sunshine with 15-18kts of breeze and a useful sea state each and every day, but forecasters anticipate light airs to provide a gentle opening to a 52 fleet season which spans nine months and six regattas, two in the USA and four in Europe. And although the training days have seen overcast skies, and humid daytime weather, sunshine is promised.
Reigning 52 SUPER SERIES champions Azzurra have made a key change to their afterguard, bringing in Croatian Tomislav Basic. That his big strength is match racing does not directly indicate that the team which represents the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda are anticipating regular duels with Quantum Racing - such as characterised so much of last season - insists fiery tactician Vasco Vascotto (ITA) but having his skills in their armoury is just another component in their drive to cover every base:
“We were looking for someone who could bring us that match racing experience.”Vascotto emphasises, “ We want to be relaxed and know we can do what we need to if we get into that match race situation. We have that strength in our pocket. It is about being prepared but not necessarily a signal we are going in that direction. We are ready to ensure we are not weak on that side. We don’t want to be fighting like we did at the end of last season in Valencia, but we are ready.”
Quantum Racing (USA), who won their class here last year, have owner Doug DeVos steering here and at the World Championships in early March in Miami. Their long term goal is to win the 52 SuperSeries titles, but making sure DeVos – owner of the team and enthusiastic principal sponsor of the regatta – enjoys maximum satisfaction is part of the focus this week for skipper Ed Baird and the team:
“ The objective is to have a week which we can look back on and say: ‘ that was really good, that was fun’.” Baird leads, “ That is number one priority. If we won the event than that would be fabulous. But more importantly it is about just trying to get better every day and see where we end up.”
For each of the teams the drive is to maintain a high level of consistency from the very start of the season. Niklas Zennström’s RÁN, which finished third overall in 2012 and Tony Langley’s Gladiator have both taken different steps to enhance their challenge to the top two teams this season. Zennström says they are looking to simply cut down on the occasional but costly bad races, whilst Langley has made a fundamental change to the configuration of Gladiator. A new, deeper keel fin should get them on terms with the newest generation boats.
The American boats Interlodge (Austin Gwen Fragomen) and Rio (ex Synergy, Manouch Moshayedi) have already proven competitive in the tune up racing and both will be looking to repeat that when racing starts in earnest Monday:
Phip Halowell (USA), the upwind trimmer on Interlodge (USA), reports:
“We’ve been racing together for a year now, and I think we are fast and our corners will be fine. But the starts will be tough, so we worked on that today to learn to shift gears for positioning off the line. These other teams are really good, they won’t make mistakes, so we have to make sure we can be at the same level.”
Main trimmer and boat captain Keith Kilpatrick says the Rio team is working hard to learn the boat, which was just delivered to them in November as ex-Synergy.
“We felt we had reached a performance peak with the last boat, so getting this new boat that is a sistership to Quantum will give us the chance to be on the same level as the others. But we have to learn this boat, so this will be important for us this week.”
Weather for the week will be a good Key West mixture: everything from light to fresh to challenge the teams assembled here. The regatta will likely start out very light and patchy Monday but then things improve for the rest of the week. Conditions will become fresh on Tuesday and into early Wednesday. During the day on Wednesday, moderating winds are expected, but still could be fresh in strength up to 20 knots on Thursday. Easing winds are expected for the finale Friday when the wind veers more into a trade wind pattern, but still moderate in strength.
All of the action from the 52 SUPER SERIES is broadcast on www.52SuperSeries.comwith live tracking from Virtual Eye supplemented by live audio commentary.
Ed Reynolds (USA) project manager Quantum Racing (USA):
“ Ed Baird will do tactics and Andy Horton will do strategy and just integrate Doug (DeVos, owner). For all the commitments he makes, everything he has done for this event and for 52 SuperSeries this is our chance to make sure he has some fun. That is a major priority, but of course we always want to win. Also we are working on a lot of new technology with the sails. We have some new fibres we are testing here, a number of new films and that is also a big focus for us, making sure the next evolution is validated.”
Vasco Vascotto, ITA, tactician Azzurra (ITA/ARG):
“ It is great to have a couple of new boats here and we hope they will join us on the rest of the 52 SUPER SERIES. I feel like the class is going forwards again and I think that is important for the class.
I have sailed here for 15 years which means I am getting old, but I have never won here. I think I have been second four times. Let us see how we sail here. We are really happy with how we are sailing. The crew work is going very well and what we have done in this last period we are very happy with. We have lost Francesco Bruni to the America’s Cup, which is a shame for him really, but we have Tomislav who has joined the team. I am from Trieste and he is from Croatia, very close together. He is a very smart guy and learns very quickly. He brings us his match racing experience. He did the Olympic Games in the 470 and is a very good match racer. We have a good relationship and with this crew it is easy for him to come in. We trained together for the Louis Vuitton in New Zealand and he coached Francesco and I at that event. We were looking for someone who could bring us that match racing experience. We want to be relaxed and know we can do what we need to if we get into that match race situation. We have that strength in our pocket. It is about being prepared but not necessarily a signal we are going in that direction. We are ready to ensure we are not weak on that side. We don’t want to be fighting like we did at the end of last season in Valencia, but we are ready. We should see the breeze building through the week from the North, NNE, it will be a little shifty.
We have learned that everybody can win here. Interlodge won one of the training races here. So we know that we are all mostly at the same level so anyone can win races here. And that is what is nice about this class. Pressure is about someone who has to go and work at 5 am, who makes €1000 a month and have three children to feed.”
Niklas Zennström (SWE) skipper-helm RÁN (SWE):
“ We have had some good practice racing here. We have had a first and third in today’s training races, so we are in good shape and this is a lovely place to sail. This is the third time we have been here. We were here last year with the Mini-Maxi and in 2008 with the Ran 1 (original TP52). We like it here, it is a good place to sail and a nice regatta.
Last season we were third and now we are going to be doing everything we can to beat Quantum Racing and Azzurra, that is our target over the season. We can win but everyone has been getting better. Looking back at last year for us we are going to be about minimising mistakes. Last year we had a few really bad races which set us back. So for us, consistency is what we need to be better at.
It is great to be having six regattas this season. And it is nice to be starting here and it is great to have Interlodge and Rio here on the starting line. It also great to have mostly owner drivers competing here.”
Chris Larson (USA) tactician, Gladiator (USA):
“ We have had four days of good practice, lots of starts, picking up where we left off last year. Having good consistent scores here, making sure you are not last or next to last here and can stay in the top half of the fleet, that is what I am looking for here. I have been here about 20 or 22 times. On the big boat course here, versus the other two, the current in the shipping channel goes out and so there is some tidal effect.
We have made some changes to the boat and it is pretty impressive. We feel good, even if we have not had a lot of stability sailing yet. We feel like we can put the bow down a little more than we could before and sail a tenth of a knot or two faster for speed without losing VMG, which we could not do before with the old configuration. The newer boats can sail at a tenth or two faster and not lose VMG and we had to sail a high, slow VMG mode now we can put the bow down and compete and that’s exciting for us.”
Phip Halowell (USA): Upwind trimmer on Interlodge (USA):
“We’ve been racing together for a year now, and I think we are fast and our corners will be fine. But the starts will be tough, so we worked on that today to learn to shift gears for positioning off the line. These other teams are really good, they won’t make mistakes, so we have to make sure we can be at the same level.”
Keith Kilpatrick (USA) main trimmer and boat captain Rio (USA):
“We felt we had reached a performance peak with the last boat, so getting this new boat that is a sistership to Quantum will give us the chance to be on the same level as the others. But we have to learn this boat, so this will be important for us this week.”
52 SUPER SERIES 2013 Regatta Calendar:▪ Quantum Key West Race Week, Key West, Florida, January 20 – 25, 5 day WL racing, dual scoring IRC & 52 Super Series.
▪ 52 World Championship, Miami, Florida, March 5 – 9, 5 day WL racing, TP52s and IRC52s.
▪ Trofeo Conde de Godo, Barcelona, May 23 – 26, 4 day WL racing, IRC52s invited.
▪ Royal Cup, Ibiza, July 2 – 6, 4 day WL & 1 day Coastal, TP52s and IRC52s.
▪ Copa del Rey, Palma, July 29 – August 3, 6 day WL racing, dual scoring IRC & 52 Super Series.
▪ Audi Week Of The Straits, Porto Cervo, September 10 – 14, 3 day WL & 2 day Coastal, TP52s and IRC52s.
domingo, 20 de janeiro de 2013
Scheidt e Fontes dividem liderança no primeiro dia do Brasileiro de Laser
Fonte: GLOBOESPORTE.COM
De volta à Laser, Robert Scheidt deu o primeiro passo rumo ao 12º título nacional da classe. Neste sábado, o bicampeão olímpico (Atlanta 1996 e Atenas 2004) liderou o primeiro dia do Brasileiro, em Porto Alegre. Tem, no entanto, um duro adversário a seu lado: divide a liderança com Bruno Fontes. E Bruno, no critério de desempate, leva vantagem.
Scheidt conseguiu uma vitória suada na primeira regata, superando Bruno na última perna. Na segunda, Bruno liderou de ponta a ponta. O Brasileiro termina neste domingo, com mais duas regatas.
Robert Scheidt e Bruno Fontes: disputa acirrada no Brasileiro de Laser (Foto: Divulgação / Veleiros do Sul)
- A disputa foi bem intensa e acredito que será assim daqui pra frente. Todos velejaram muito bem. O nível da classe Laser é muito alto e vários atletas podem chegar bem - disse Bruno, que representou o Brasil nas Olimpíadas de Londres 2012.
Scheidt, que mudou de classe em setembro, tem no currículo da Laser duas medalhas olímpicas de ouro, uma de prata (Sydney 2000), oito títulos mundiais e 11 campeonatos brasileiros entre 1992 e 2005, sendo os oito últimos consecutivos. Velejou oito anos ao lado de Bruno Prada na Star e conquistou três campeonatos mundiais e duas medalhas olímpicas - prata em Pequim 2008 e bronze em Londres 2012.
- Tive uma boa disputa com o Bruno Fontes. Eu venci a primeira regata, por muito pouco, e ele acabou vencendo a segunda, também por muito pouco. Ou seja, as duas disputas foram decididas em pequenos detalhes. Senti que, no vento mais forte, nossos barcos têm uma velocidade superior à do restante da flotilha. E o Bruno, nessas condições, é um dos velejadores mais rápido do Brasil - disse Scheidt.
Resultados - após duas regatas:
1- Bruno Fontes - 3 pontos perdidos (2+1) - e Robert Scheidt - 3 pp (1+2)
3- Matheus Dellagnelo - 7 pp (4+3)
4- André Streppel - 11 pp (3+8)
5- Yago Lange (ARG) - 11 pp (6+5)
De volta à Laser, Robert Scheidt deu o primeiro passo rumo ao 12º título nacional da classe. Neste sábado, o bicampeão olímpico (Atlanta 1996 e Atenas 2004) liderou o primeiro dia do Brasileiro, em Porto Alegre. Tem, no entanto, um duro adversário a seu lado: divide a liderança com Bruno Fontes. E Bruno, no critério de desempate, leva vantagem.
Scheidt conseguiu uma vitória suada na primeira regata, superando Bruno na última perna. Na segunda, Bruno liderou de ponta a ponta. O Brasileiro termina neste domingo, com mais duas regatas.
Robert Scheidt e Bruno Fontes: disputa acirrada no Brasileiro de Laser (Foto: Divulgação / Veleiros do Sul)- A disputa foi bem intensa e acredito que será assim daqui pra frente. Todos velejaram muito bem. O nível da classe Laser é muito alto e vários atletas podem chegar bem - disse Bruno, que representou o Brasil nas Olimpíadas de Londres 2012.
Scheidt, que mudou de classe em setembro, tem no currículo da Laser duas medalhas olímpicas de ouro, uma de prata (Sydney 2000), oito títulos mundiais e 11 campeonatos brasileiros entre 1992 e 2005, sendo os oito últimos consecutivos. Velejou oito anos ao lado de Bruno Prada na Star e conquistou três campeonatos mundiais e duas medalhas olímpicas - prata em Pequim 2008 e bronze em Londres 2012.
- Tive uma boa disputa com o Bruno Fontes. Eu venci a primeira regata, por muito pouco, e ele acabou vencendo a segunda, também por muito pouco. Ou seja, as duas disputas foram decididas em pequenos detalhes. Senti que, no vento mais forte, nossos barcos têm uma velocidade superior à do restante da flotilha. E o Bruno, nessas condições, é um dos velejadores mais rápido do Brasil - disse Scheidt.
Resultados - após duas regatas:
1- Bruno Fontes - 3 pontos perdidos (2+1) - e Robert Scheidt - 3 pp (1+2)
3- Matheus Dellagnelo - 7 pp (4+3)
4- André Streppel - 11 pp (3+8)
5- Yago Lange (ARG) - 11 pp (6+5)
quinta-feira, 17 de janeiro de 2013
Prometeo IRC 30.5 diseño de Patricio Gutierrez. Una vuelta a la construcción tradicional
Fonte: JuanpaNews
© Patricio Gutierrez
© Patricio Gutierrez
PROMETEO – IRC 30.5
El proyecto empezó con la idea del Dr. Harry Giuria, quien quería hacerse una embarcación de aproximadamente 30 pies con el aparejo de carbono del IMS 28 anterior. Para la Formula IRC.
El barco debía ser de construcción económica, y dada la buena experiencia que yo tenia con el desarrollo del JABEQUE (barco de Jorge y Pedro Ferrero) en madera laminada y su cercanía con el Astillero Rosendo, esta fue la opción elegida.
Se trabajo en el estudio de esta fórmula nueva para sudamerica, los estilos de barcos predominantes a nivel mundial, en los lugares donde esta mas explotada la formula según las esloras, condiciones de navegación y las nuevas tendencias.
Una vez conocido el tipo de características que debería tener este barco se fue haciendo una evolución constante en las distintas areas de diseño que a la vez debían respetar algunas medidas acotadas como las del mástil original de carbono entre otras cosas. Que para poder llegar a unas características lógicas para su eslora, tuvimos que optar por una configuración de mayor cuadrada y Spinnakers y Asimétricos a tope.
Se construyo en madera laminada, usando la técnica STRIPPED, como base del forro y armazón, se utilizaron serie de cuadernas laminadas y mamparos que luego en su mayoría quedarían como estructura del barco.
A su vez una vez terminado el forrado completo, tanto en el casco como en la cubierta, lleva una tela exterior de E-Glass en forma bidireccional a +-45 grados.
Todo esto realizado por la excelente mano de obra del Astillero Rosendo, la cual en algunas inspecciones realizadas me sorprendieron por la exactitud y precisión del trabajo. Aunque sea difícil de creer la diferencia una vez terminado el casco, cubierta, estructura e interiores fue de 1 kilo con respecto a la estimación de diseño.
Se boto a fines de Diciembre del 2012, y entre una cosa y otra su primer singladura fue Mantevideo – Bs. As. Y nada menos que para largar al otro día el Circuito, habrá que trabajarlo un poco, pero creo que tiene un potencial enorme y será un barco muy lindo de navegar.
Te adjunto algunas fotos de la construcción y en sus primeras pruebas
Ficha Técnica
Eslora: 9.30 m.
Manga: 3.15 m.
Calado: 1.87 m.
Diseno: Arq. Naval Patricio Gutiérrez – www.patriciogutierrez.com
Construcción: Astillero Rosendo, Montevideo, Uruguay.
quarta-feira, 16 de janeiro de 2013
Franck Cammas training in C-Class
Fonte: VSail
The long road to the 35th America’s Cup for the legendary French sailor starts with the first training session onboard his C class catamaran, Alpha, winner of the 2007 International C-Class Catamaran Championship, in Lorient, together with Louis Viat.
Franck Cammas trains on his C class catamaran. Lorient, 13 January 2013. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda
Franck Cammas trains on his C class catamaran. Lorient, 13 January 2013. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda
Franck Cammas trains on his C class catamaran. Lorient, 13 January 2013. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda
Franck Cammas trains on his C class catamaran. Lorient, 13 January 2013. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda
The long road to the 35th America’s Cup for the legendary French sailor starts with the first training session onboard his C class catamaran, Alpha, winner of the 2007 International C-Class Catamaran Championship, in Lorient, together with Louis Viat.
Franck Cammas trains on his C class catamaran. Lorient, 13 January 2013. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda
Franck Cammas trains on his C class catamaran. Lorient, 13 January 2013. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda
Franck Cammas trains on his C class catamaran. Lorient, 13 January 2013. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda
Franck Cammas trains on his C class catamaran. Lorient, 13 January 2013. Photo copyright Yvan Zedda
terça-feira, 15 de janeiro de 2013
Campeonato de Portugal de Classes Olímpicas - 39º Tormeio Internacional de Vela do Carnaval
Fonte: FPVela
A Federação Portuguesa de Vela, em coorganização com o Clube Internacional da Marina de Vilamoura (CIMAV), anunciam a realização do Campeonato de Portugal de Classes Olímpicas 2013, em simultâneo com o 39º Torneio Internacional de Vela do Carnaval, a disputar entre 9 e 11 de Fevereiro, em Vilamoura.
A prova estará aberta a barcos das seguintes classes, nos escalões Absoluto, para cada disciplina e respetivo género:
CLASSE
Laser Standard Masculino
Laser Radial Feminino
FINN Masculino
49er Masculino
49er FX Feminino
470 Masculino e Feminino
RS:X Masculino e Feminino
INSCRIÇÃO
Para ser admitida, uma Classe terá de ter um mínimo de 4 barcos inscritos, até ao dia 25 de Janeiro, inclusive.
Os barcos das Classes Olímpicas inscritos no 39º Torneio Internacional de Carnaval, estão automaticamente inscritos no Campeonato de Portugal de Classes Olímpicas.
O boletim de inscrição anexo deverá ser enviado para:
Clube Internacional da Marina de Vilamoura
APT 785 - VILAMOURA
8125-409 Quarteira
Tel. – 289 302536
Fax – 289 389153
cimav@mail.telepac.pt
Programa das Regatas
09/02/13 13 horas Sinal de Advertência 1ª regata do dia
10/02/13 11 horas Sinal de Advertência 1ª regata do dia
11/02/13 11 horas Sinal de Advertência 1ª regata do dia
Anúncio de Regata Campeonato de Portugal de Classes Olímpicas
Boletim de Inscrição Campeonato de Portugal de Classes Olímpicas
Anúncio de Regata 39º Torneio Internacional de Vela do Carnaval
Boletim de Inscrição 39º Torneio Internacional de Vela do Carnaval
GBR Youth Challenge selected for Red Bull Youth America’s Cup trials
Fonte: VSail
GBR Youth Challenge has been announced as the British team challenging for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. The team will compete at the selection series in San Francisco between the 18th and 24th of February 2013, using the same AC45 catamarans as the America’s Cup World Series. They will be competing against 11 other nations for the opportunity to sail in the first Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. After the selections teams will go into an intensive training program in pursuit of the ultimate youth sailing goal, to win the youth Americas Cup in San Francisco.
The eight sailors that make up GBR Youth Challenge have come together with the aim of winning the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. All have proven themselves to be some of the best young sailors in Britain competing in events of the very highest level including RC44 world championships, TP52 Medcup, Extreme Sailing Series and F18 world championships. Their focus and drive set them apart from the rest as they all have the longing to be allowed the chance to compete on yacht racing’s world stage. The team is led by James French, a talented sailor from the Isle of Wight, who has taken every opportunity to better himself from a young age. He will be joined by Trystan Seal, Peter Austin, Will Semken, Adam Lees, Adam Piggott, Andrew Sinclair and Tom Forrester Coles. A number of the team have come through the British Keelboat Academy a joint RYA and UKSA programme aiming to develop young British sailors.
According to James French, “We have been very fortunate to receive financial backing from Team Concise (teamconcise.com) to help us get this far. Team Concise is committed to helping young British sailors. Their main focus so far has always been offshore racing in Class 40′s and its amazing to see the success they have already had there. It’s a real advantage to GBR Youth Challenge to have another young team with a phenomenal race record assist us with our program.”
Moving further down along the campaign path the team are looking for likeminded companies and individual’s to join the campaign to help them progress. This is an amazing opportunity for anyone to become involved with, as the possible rewards could be fruitful as well as promoting youth sailing. We are passionate about youth sailing and hope that we can bring together a group of likeminded individuals to move forward and get a chance to compete in the most prestigious event in the sailing world.
The eight sailors that make up GBR Youth Challenge have come together with the aim of winning the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. All have proven themselves to be some of the best young sailors in Britain competing in events of the very highest level including RC44 world championships, TP52 Medcup, Extreme Sailing Series and F18 world championships. Their focus and drive set them apart from the rest as they all have the longing to be allowed the chance to compete on yacht racing’s world stage. The team is led by James French, a talented sailor from the Isle of Wight, who has taken every opportunity to better himself from a young age. He will be joined by Trystan Seal, Peter Austin, Will Semken, Adam Lees, Adam Piggott, Andrew Sinclair and Tom Forrester Coles. A number of the team have come through the British Keelboat Academy a joint RYA and UKSA programme aiming to develop young British sailors.
According to James French, “We have been very fortunate to receive financial backing from Team Concise (teamconcise.com) to help us get this far. Team Concise is committed to helping young British sailors. Their main focus so far has always been offshore racing in Class 40′s and its amazing to see the success they have already had there. It’s a real advantage to GBR Youth Challenge to have another young team with a phenomenal race record assist us with our program.”
Moving further down along the campaign path the team are looking for likeminded companies and individual’s to join the campaign to help them progress. This is an amazing opportunity for anyone to become involved with, as the possible rewards could be fruitful as well as promoting youth sailing. We are passionate about youth sailing and hope that we can bring together a group of likeminded individuals to move forward and get a chance to compete in the most prestigious event in the sailing world.
Team-Italy powered by STIG
Fonte: Team-Italy powered by STIG
Team-Italy powered by Stig has reached its first goal. One week before its first gathering, Italy’s Under 25 sailing elite has already become a team. Tight-knit and determined, it is training onboard an Extreme 40 at the Marina di Loano in view of the participation at the Selection Series of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, scheduled to take place in San Francisco from the 18th until the 24th of February.
Following the conclusion of the first training session (January 5th to 15th), Team-Italy powered by Stig will be in Milan on February 4th to officially present itself to the press. From there, it will move back to the Marina di Loano where, from February the 5th until the 15th, the young sailors will fine tune their skills in view of the upcoming transfer to San Francisco.
Cornerstone of the project is Enrico Zennaro who, in a race against time, organized a solid and well-structured challenge: “Despite the current economic climate, working with Lorenzo Zanotto of Wave On, we managed to gather a pool of sponsors that guaranteed Team-Italy powered by Stig the necessary resources to be on the start line of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup,” explains Zennaro, winner of four world, three European and four Italian titles. He stresses that “a decisive factor was the support from Luna Rossa, that provided the Extreme 40 necessary for our training, and Alessandro Rombelli, who as an owner embraced the idea of backing a young team which will face one of the most competitive challenges. From that point, it was a rapid succession of events, culminating in the entry of Gagà Milano as main sponsor and the participation in our project of Yacht Club Marina di Loano, from whom we received unparalleled hospitality and whose burgee we will be flying on the waters of San Francisco.”
The Team-Italy powered by Stig young sailors with Lorenzo Mazza, their coach
Once the project was on track, Enrico Zennaro called Lorenzo Mazza to pick the crew that, according to the rules, has to strictly consist of Under 25 sailors. Mazza, a seven America’s Cup veteran and winner of the 32nd edition with Alinghi, is the coach of this group of some of the most talented Italian young sailors. Mazza summoned at the Marina di Loano Giovanni Coccoluto, Jas Farneti, Matteo Ferraglia, Simon Sivitz Kosuta, Filippo La Mantia, Francesco Marrai, Alessandro Siviero and Martino Tortarolo: “I think it’s an initiative with unique values,” stated Lorenzo Mazza, “and it will be a pleasure to try and give the talented young sailors the possibility to achieve their potential in the best way possible. The enthusiasm and desire that marks this group is palpable. From the very outset we have been able to train without any distractions thanks to the support and facilities provided by the Yacht Club Marina di Loano.”
Alessandro Rombelli, Melges 20 world champion and owner of the Baltic 72 GP Stig, explains what drove him to support the project: “I immediately decided to back the young sailors and their talent within a competition unique in its kind. It’s a fascinating challenge and an opportunity not to be missed by the youngsters that were called to be part of the crew. For them it will undoubtedly be a learning experience that will help them grow and prepare them to face even the most competitive racing. In addition, this project allows team Stig to be indirectly exposed to the world of multihulls and technologies that revolve around the America’s Cup.”
“The Yacht Club Marina di Loano stands by Team-Italy powered by Stig and proudly supports its challenge at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup,” states Giorgio Benussi, Commodore of the Yacht Club Marina di Loano. “A project like this will find at the Marina di Loano and its Yacht Club the perfect venue: a safe and modern harbor, a fully-equipped naval base, the Amico Loano boatyard, the available resources, an organization that speaks the same language and a reception center that includes the guesthouse, the restaurant, the meeting room and the press center. Good luck to everybody.”
As pointed out at the beginning, the challenge of Team-Italy powered by Stig is made possible thanks to the resources provided by a pool of sponsors led by haute horology group Gagà Milan: “We chose to back the challenge of Team-Italy powered by Stig at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup because it’s an ambitious and winning project, with which we share values and strategies,” explains Ruben Tomella, founder of Gagà Milano. “Our company is young but already internationally successful, the result of an innovative idea, challenge of design and technology with extensive use of materials such as carbon, titanium and kevlar, just like that of Team-Italy. We measure time, another strong element and rich in meaning that unites us with Team-Italy Powered by Stig, always aiming at absolute performance and excellence. Through Team-Italy powered by Stig we communicate our values and reach an audience attentive to innovation, style, detail and the quality of the made-in-Italy brand.”
Following the conclusion of the first training session (January 5th to 15th), Team-Italy powered by Stig will be in Milan on February 4th to officially present itself to the press. From there, it will move back to the Marina di Loano where, from February the 5th until the 15th, the young sailors will fine tune their skills in view of the upcoming transfer to San Francisco.
Cornerstone of the project is Enrico Zennaro who, in a race against time, organized a solid and well-structured challenge: “Despite the current economic climate, working with Lorenzo Zanotto of Wave On, we managed to gather a pool of sponsors that guaranteed Team-Italy powered by Stig the necessary resources to be on the start line of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup,” explains Zennaro, winner of four world, three European and four Italian titles. He stresses that “a decisive factor was the support from Luna Rossa, that provided the Extreme 40 necessary for our training, and Alessandro Rombelli, who as an owner embraced the idea of backing a young team which will face one of the most competitive challenges. From that point, it was a rapid succession of events, culminating in the entry of Gagà Milano as main sponsor and the participation in our project of Yacht Club Marina di Loano, from whom we received unparalleled hospitality and whose burgee we will be flying on the waters of San Francisco.”
The Team-Italy powered by Stig young sailors with Lorenzo Mazza, their coach
Once the project was on track, Enrico Zennaro called Lorenzo Mazza to pick the crew that, according to the rules, has to strictly consist of Under 25 sailors. Mazza, a seven America’s Cup veteran and winner of the 32nd edition with Alinghi, is the coach of this group of some of the most talented Italian young sailors. Mazza summoned at the Marina di Loano Giovanni Coccoluto, Jas Farneti, Matteo Ferraglia, Simon Sivitz Kosuta, Filippo La Mantia, Francesco Marrai, Alessandro Siviero and Martino Tortarolo: “I think it’s an initiative with unique values,” stated Lorenzo Mazza, “and it will be a pleasure to try and give the talented young sailors the possibility to achieve their potential in the best way possible. The enthusiasm and desire that marks this group is palpable. From the very outset we have been able to train without any distractions thanks to the support and facilities provided by the Yacht Club Marina di Loano.”
Alessandro Rombelli, Melges 20 world champion and owner of the Baltic 72 GP Stig, explains what drove him to support the project: “I immediately decided to back the young sailors and their talent within a competition unique in its kind. It’s a fascinating challenge and an opportunity not to be missed by the youngsters that were called to be part of the crew. For them it will undoubtedly be a learning experience that will help them grow and prepare them to face even the most competitive racing. In addition, this project allows team Stig to be indirectly exposed to the world of multihulls and technologies that revolve around the America’s Cup.”
“The Yacht Club Marina di Loano stands by Team-Italy powered by Stig and proudly supports its challenge at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup,” states Giorgio Benussi, Commodore of the Yacht Club Marina di Loano. “A project like this will find at the Marina di Loano and its Yacht Club the perfect venue: a safe and modern harbor, a fully-equipped naval base, the Amico Loano boatyard, the available resources, an organization that speaks the same language and a reception center that includes the guesthouse, the restaurant, the meeting room and the press center. Good luck to everybody.”
As pointed out at the beginning, the challenge of Team-Italy powered by Stig is made possible thanks to the resources provided by a pool of sponsors led by haute horology group Gagà Milan: “We chose to back the challenge of Team-Italy powered by Stig at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup because it’s an ambitious and winning project, with which we share values and strategies,” explains Ruben Tomella, founder of Gagà Milano. “Our company is young but already internationally successful, the result of an innovative idea, challenge of design and technology with extensive use of materials such as carbon, titanium and kevlar, just like that of Team-Italy. We measure time, another strong element and rich in meaning that unites us with Team-Italy Powered by Stig, always aiming at absolute performance and excellence. Through Team-Italy powered by Stig we communicate our values and reach an audience attentive to innovation, style, detail and the quality of the made-in-Italy brand.”
Vasco Vascotto em 2013
Fonte: VSail
The legendary Italian sailor talks about the 2013 season on the TP52 Azzurra, the RC44 class, the Melges 32 and the Farr 40 and reminds us he had warned us about the pitfalls the “new” America’s Cup would encounter. More than two years ago he had predicted thethe hundreds of monohull yachts in his local yacht club in Trieste, and its pinnacle, the America’s Cup.re would be no more than 4-6 teams and that it would turn out to be a very expensive America’s Cup. Unfortunately, Vascotto was right and now feels there is widening gap between the base of the sport.
2nd Boat to ETNZ
Fonte: Team New Zealand
The much anticipated Emirates Team New Zealand AC72 Boat 2 has been delivered from Cookson’s Boatyard to the team base in Auckland’s Viaduct.
After months of continuous hard work and over 40,000 man hours the second of the teams AC72′s has been completed.
The job now is to piece it together then fit it out with all of the complex systems and get it out on the water in the next few weeks to be load tested, tuned and resume the sailing program to get it up to speed in final preparations before shipping it to San Francisco for the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup in July.
The much anticipated Emirates Team New Zealand AC72 Boat 2 has been delivered from Cookson’s Boatyard to the team base in Auckland’s Viaduct.
After months of continuous hard work and over 40,000 man hours the second of the teams AC72′s has been completed.
The job now is to piece it together then fit it out with all of the complex systems and get it out on the water in the next few weeks to be load tested, tuned and resume the sailing program to get it up to speed in final preparations before shipping it to San Francisco for the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup in July.
terça-feira, 8 de janeiro de 2013
Taking the big cat apart piece by piece
Fonte: America's Cup
The Emirates Team New Zealand AC72 has been reduced to its component pieces, a delicate operation which took the best part of two weeks to accomplish. Winch drums and some hardware has been removed to be installed on Boat 2 which will be delivered to the team’s Auckland Viaduct Harbour base early in January.
Shore crew members have worked long and hard to complete decommissioning before Christmas. From tomorrow they will have a little time off before setting about the task of commissioning Boat 2 for its launch in early February.
Chris Cameron’s pictures are here.
The Emirates Team New Zealand AC72 has been reduced to its component pieces, a delicate operation which took the best part of two weeks to accomplish. Winch drums and some hardware has been removed to be installed on Boat 2 which will be delivered to the team’s Auckland Viaduct Harbour base early in January.
Shore crew members have worked long and hard to complete decommissioning before Christmas. From tomorrow they will have a little time off before setting about the task of commissioning Boat 2 for its launch in early February.
Chris Cameron’s pictures are here.
A sailor’s life is not an easy one
Fonte: America's Cup
As you all relax for the holidays, spare a thought for the Emirates Team New Zealand sailors who will be training hard every day to keep in shape for getting back out on to the water early in the new year. Here’s an update on the gym training programme from David Slyfield.
Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena – Update from Auckland – “I think there is a chance to see more capsizes”
© Nigel Marpel / Luna Rossa Challenge
Fonte: AC34
Just before his team stopped sailing for a short break over the Christmas holidays in December, Luna Rossa Challenge skipper Max Sirena sat down at the team base on Auckland’s waterfront to answer some questions from americascup.com. Here are the highlights.
domingo, 6 de janeiro de 2013
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