Yachting News 1st September 2009

Sep 1st 2009
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Greetings Yachties,

Laser Masters

Clipper Round The World Ocean Race

Knickerbocker Cup

Hilary Lister

Oman Sail – iShares

RC44 – Portoroz

18fters – San Francisco

Melges 17 & 32

Kevin Langeree

Enjoy

Laser Worlds Masters – Day Two

Sailing on St. Margaret’s Bay is not for the faint of heart. Almost three hundred athletes from around the world are learning that lesson this week at the 2009 Nautel Laser Masters World Championships.

Under sunny skies, but shifty winds, it was mid-afternoon before the race committee could get the first race off. It meant for the second day in a row, athletes were on the water for more than six hours. That’s a gruelling schedule for a Masters regatta where the youngest competitor is 35 and the oldest is 77 years old.

In the Standard fleets, the Apprentice division (35 to 44 years old) was the only one to get in two races on Day Two. Adonis Bougiouris of Greece is in first place, Australian Brett Beyer is in second, with Orlando Gledhill of Great Britain in third, and Canadian Ray Davies in fourth.

For the Masters (45 to 54 years old); Scott Ferguson of the United States is in first, hometown favourite Andy Roy is in second and Ari Barshi of the Dominican Republic is in third. Roy, from Ontario, spent his summers sailing the waters around Nova Scotia and is from a well-known Nova Scotia sailing family.

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The ten yachts that will be competing in this year’s Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race received a big send off from their base in Royal Clarence Marina, Gosport today, ahead of their journey north to the Humber for the race start on 13 September. The Worshipful Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Diane Searle, joined hundreds of local supporters and friends and family of the non-professional Clipper crews to watch the internationally sponsored fleet paraded out of Portsmouth Harbour, accompanied by a flotilla of local boats.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only race of its kind in which people from all walks of life can take on the challenges of ocean racing to achieve the pinnacle of the sport, a circumnavigation. With 33 nationalities and more than 230 professions represented by the crews taking part in Clipper 09-10, the race was founded by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world. Addressing the crews and supporters at Royal Clarence Marina, Sir Robin said, “It is great to see Gosport show itself off today and be part of our race. We’ve been based here for the last four years and we love being here. This is where all our crew train from and we’re the only round the world yacht race open to everyone – where ordinary people can get on board and do something truly extraordinary with their lives.”

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Reuben Corbett Wins the 2009 Knickerbocker Cup

Port Washington, NY, USA: Reuben Corbett, Black Sheep Racing (NZ) and his crew Miles Addy, Brad Farrand, Tom Bentham, have won the 2009 Knickerbocker Cup. After placing 6th in the full round robin and winning the semi-finals in a tie breaker, Corbett went on the capture the Cup in a tight matches with Dave Perry (USA), Team Perry, beating the American 3-2. Phil Robertson (NZ), Waka Racing, beat out Keith Swinton (AUS), Black Swan Match Racing, in the petit finals.

The Knickerbocker Cup is a qualifier for the World Match Racing Tour, with the winner gaining an automatic entry to the King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda, one of the most prestigious match racing events on the Tour. With Corbett’s win here in Manhasset Bay, he and his team will be in Bermuda this coming October and will find out how they stand up against the best ISAF ranked match racers in the world.

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Black Sheep Racing

About Black Sheep Racing

Black Sheep Racing is a group of young aspiring sailors aiming to make a mark on several world stages. The team consists of three divisions. The objective for each division;

Match Racing: qualify for World Match Racing Tour, win the World Match Racing Tour

Fleet Racing: qualify for the London Olympics 2012 (Laser class), win the Keel boat Nationals

Team Racing: win the New Zealand Nationals, qualify for and win the Team Racing World Championships 2011 Ireland

Black Sheep Racing is committed to achieving its goals.

Final results:

1. Reuben Corbett (NZ)
2. Dave Perry (USA)
3. Phil Robertson (NZ)
4. Keith Swinton (AUS)
5. Rick Fornander (SWE)
6. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
7. Sally Barkow (USA)
8. Taylor Canfield (ISV)
9. Laurie Jury (NZ)
10. Chris Van Tol (USA)
11. Juan Grimaldi (ARG)
12. Jakub Pawluk (POL)

Disabled sailor achieves record

Disabled yachtswoman has become the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around Britain.

Hilary Lister, 37, was applauded as she sailed into Dover harbour, in her home county of Kent.

On arrival, she declared: “I’m so relieved to be home but looking forward to the next challenge.”

Mrs Lister began her voyage in May but had to be treated in hospital a month later, having been rescued from rough seas off Pembrokeshire.

She had delayed the start of her trip, from Plymouth, after being taken to hospital with breathing difficulties.

Mrs Lister also abandoned a similar attempt last year after being hit by bad weather, technical trouble and injuries to members of her support crew.

Her spokesman, Paul Taroni, described the journey as “an amazing triumph over adversity”.

Seeing whales – 35-foot long – fully breached out of the water was incredible
Hilary Lister

“Everything that went against her and all the things that went wrong, Hilary overcame to do something truly inspirational. We are all so proud of her,” he said.

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Hilary’s blog

Double Delight As Oman Dominates In Germany

An action packed three days comes to an end with a nail biting finish as both Oman Sail boats tie for first place

No one could have scripted the final races of the Kiel leg of the iShares Cup in Germany with so much action, tension and suspense. As the first races started, Masirah’s overnight lead started to be reduced as they scored an unprecedented seventh place in the first race as a result of penalty whilst they were leading the fleet. Renaissance kept Oman’s presence felt with a second place, much to the appreciation of the thousands of spectators watching from only metres away on the shoreline. Masirah came back strongly in the next two races with back to back wins while Renaissance kept their momentum with a second and a fourth. Masirah took a dip in the fourth race of the day with a sixth but a first in race f ive kept their heads above Renaissance who had made the best of Masirah’s predicament and taken a first and second.

As the fleet went into the double-scoring sixth and final race of the day, and the nineteenth race of the Kiel leg, only Renaissance could knock Masirah off the top spot. Third placed Team Gitana could still take second place if both Oman Sail teams had poor results. The tension going into the final race was heightened by a delay in the start as a huge cruise liner made her way into the harbour of the beautiful city of Kiel in the far north of Germany. As racing got underway it became immediately apparent that Masirah was in trouble, but Renaissance was in the driving seat as she led the fleet away to the first mark of the course. By the time all the boats crossed the finish line it was Renaissance who took the points for winning the race but Masirah had scored their worst result of the series and crossed the finish line in eighth. A mad dash for pencils and calculators showed that it was a dead heat for first place between the two Oman boats and the decision was left with the race officers. After consulting rulebooks, Masirah was given the nod as they had scored more first places than Renaissance over the three days.

Khamis Al Anbouri, Oman Sail race team member, was once again on Masirah, ‘What a result for Oman today! We are competing at the pinnacle of a major international sport and we had not one, but two, boats competing for first place. To stand on the winners podium for the third event in a row and hold the Omani flag high for the world to see has once again been an honour.’

The success of the Oman teams in Germany took place in front of crowds of thousands who braved the rain, wind and thunder. Also present was the Oman Ministry of Tourism with delegates and VIP’s from the German tourism industry. The awareness of Oman as a tourist destination in Oman has always been high in Germany but the televisio n, print and internet coverage will have made hundreds of thousands more people aware of Oman as a premiere destination. The teams now travel to Amsterdam for the penultimate leg of the circuit that will be held in the heart of the city from September the 25th to the 27th.

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Countdown to the Bank Sarasin RC 44 Portoroz Cup

The fifth regatta of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2009 – the Bank Sarasin RC 44 Portoroz Cup – will take place in Slovenia on September 29 – October 3. Current leaders of the Championship Tour, Chris Bake / Cameron Appleton (Team Aqua) are only two points ahead of Torbjorn Tornqvist / Dean Barker (Artemis). The RC 44 Class welcomes a new Russian team called Katusha skippered by Paul Cayard.

August 31, 2009 – Preparations in Portoroz on Slovenia’s narrow coastline are well under way for the fifth stage of the RC 44 Championship Tour. Racing begins in one month and the local organisers as well as the Class management are getting ready for the Championship Tour’s autumn season.

It is the third time that Portoroz welcomes an RC 44 regatta after the events held here in 2006 and 2007. Bank Sarasin is the title sponsor of the 2009 event being organised by the Slovenian Sailing Federation.

Leader of the Championship Tour, Chris Bake’s Team Aqua is only two points ahead of Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis. “We look forward to getting back on the water”, says Bake. “The last regatta on Lake Garda was a good challenge, and the last day was a great endorsement of the strength and depth of our Team; I was really proud to be a part of it. Portoroz will with no doubt be tough too. We plan to get out there, work hard and try and sail a consistent series.”

Currently third of the Championship Tour on a tie with Larry Ellison’s BMW ORACLE Racing, Igor Lah (Ceeref) has been instrumental in bringing the regatta to Portoroz. “This is a very important regatta for our team, because it is the first time we will be sailing on Slovene waters”, he explains. ”We will have some more practice than usual prior to the regatta. Unfortunately we’ve had many crew changes this season, which had an effect on crew work. I believe it has stabilized now so we are able to stay with the same team for the rest of the season. We will try to do our best.”

The RC 44 Class looks forward to welcoming a new team in Portoroz. “Katusha” will fly the Russian flag and will be skippered by Paul Cayard, who has already been involved in several events with the RC 44 Class.

The Practice Race and media day will open the regatta on Monday September 28. The Bank Sarasin RC 44 Portoroz Cup will begin on Tuesday September 29 with the match racing event. The fleet regatta will take place from Thursday October 1 till Saturday 3.

Following a long summer break, the ten teams involved in the Championship Tour will be keen to get back to the water and compete in the last “conventional” regatta of the Tour before the double points Gold Cup in Dubai.

The teams involved:

(Name of team, owner, pro sailor)

Team Aqua, Chris Bake / Cameron Appleton
Team Ceeref, Igor Lah / Sébastien Col
Sea Dubai, Yousef Lahej, DIMC / Markus Wieser
BMW ORACLE Racing, Larry Ellison / Russell Coutts
Team Organika, Maciej Nawrocki / Karol Jablonski
Puerto Calero Islas Canarias, Jose Juan Calero / Jose Maria Ponce
Artemis, Torbjorn Tornqvist / Dean Barker
No Way Back, Pieter Heerema / Ray Davies
Team Austria, René Mangold / Christian Binder
Team Katusha, Paul Cayard

more here

Winning finds a way in 18 Skiffs opener

Rich Roberts’ Day 1 race report
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.

With a wink and a nod to experience, Australia’s John Winning and California’s Howard Hamlin won the first two races of

the eighth annual 18′ Skiff International Regatta Monday.

Winning’s third place in the second race left him in first place with four points. Hamlin and Winning’s son John Jr., a.k.a. Herman, share second place with six.

Winning, 57, and Hamlin, 56, each a world champion in the class in past years, have been competing in the event off the City Front since its inception, but few of their victories have been as satisfying.

In the first race, as the other 11 boats lined up for starboard tack starts, Winning, with crew David Gibson and Andrew Day, sailed off alone to the pin end of the line in front of the host St. Francis Yacht Club with an obviously different plan: a bold port tack start with no right of way but a big advantage on the wind angle that would allow them not only to cross all their rivals but get to the favored right side of the course.

“We just thought it was there and we’d give it a try,” Winning said, smiling.

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18s’ 8th annual thrill show under way on the Bay

SpotSatelliteMessengers crew launches for a practice sail. Photo Rich Roberts

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.

The diverse Bay sailing scene has shifted over the last couple of days from a splash and crash 505 dinghy Worlds last week to a wooden boat regatta Sunday and now to perhaps the wildest exhibition of racing on the edge: the eighth annual 18′ Skiff International Regatta Monday through Friday.

About a dozen crews of three were still checking in Sunday afternoon, led by three-time winner Howard Hamlin and Australian veteran John Winning, who finished last year’s event with broken ribs, alongside crew member David Gibson’s fractured ankle. Winning’s son John Jr., a.k.a. “Herman,” will skipper a rival boat.

It gets rough out there on the windward-leeward course running in front of the host St. Francis Yacht Club and Crissy Field, the grass staging area behind the beach launching area.

Even one of the locals, skipper Ty Reed of the Skiff Sailing Foundation Red entry, said, “My goal is to win and to start and finish every race.”

Those objectives have gone hand in hand in the past, although even winners have taken their tumbles.

The 18-footers they sail aren’t even boats in the conventional sense but mere platforms to which the crews ride on hiking racks and skim over the tops of waves behind oversize sails.

And the Bay presents added challenges: gear-busting, bone-chilling breeze.

“The coldest summer spot we go to,” says Winning.

And, says Trevor Barnabas, skipper of 24HourRoadService.com, “a bit more breeze than anyplace else we go.”

The wind funneling through the Golden Gate is both friend and enemy. Archie Massey was a crew last year but is skipper now on Asko.

“The first year we were winning every race at the first [windward] mark and capsized,” he said. “That was with the old skipper.”

John Gray, a crew on David Rasmussen’s local SwitchYourStyle, knows all about capsizing. He lost track of the number of flips be experienced while sailing in the 505 Worlds last week.

“I can’t wait for this to start,” he said.

There will be 10 races total, two each day, starting at 1 p.m. local time, except for Thursday when the first race will be at 3 p.m. followed by the traditional Bridge to Bridge Race, matching the 18s with kite boarders and windsurfers in a 5 1/2-mile romp along the city front from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge.

Last year Hamlin’s team became the first 18 to finish first, 37 seconds ahead of a kite boarder.

Australia’s Seve Jarvin won the 18s overall last year but is not competing here. He once described the class as “fast, and they add a bit of adventure. They give sailing a bit of an edge. You usually end up in the top three if you stay upright.

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30 August 2009

Congratulations are in order for Sean Fidler as he is the 2009 Melges 17 U.S. National Champion! Alongside of his wife Tiffany, they beat out 17 other incredible teams to win. In second overall was hard-core competitor Coye Harrett with Meg Six as crew and in third, Mike and Stephanie Dow. Harrett and Dow were dead even in the points, however Harrett won the tiebreaker.

Rounding out the top five was Rob Terry in fourth and Mary Anne Ward in fifth.

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Is this the best One Design Keelboat Team on the Planet?

31 August 2009

Image by Pierrick Contin.

Lorenzo Santini’s highly talented Italian crew aboard UKA UKA Racing, have just made Melges 24 history by becoming the first team to hold the World and European Championship titles concurrently. Already reigning World Champions after their comprehensive win in Porto Cervo in 2008, last week in the French town of Hyeres they also scooped 2009 European Championship crown with an impressive performance which saw them win four of the ten race series. A remarkable achievement in a high quality eighty-six-boat fleet peppered with AC veterans, World Champions and Olympic sailors.

Three year ago in a bar Torbole, Melges Europe boss Federico Michetti told me that he was in the process of assembling a ‘dream team’ for an assault on the International Melges 24 regatta circuit. Since then and with the considerable support of team owner
Lorenzo Santini, Michetti’s super-squad has dominated the Melges 24 Class on an unprecedented global scale. UKA UKA Racing are showing no signs of easing up in 2009. A win at Key West in January has been followed up with victory at the hotly contested Italian Championship before their Europeans victory last week.

At the core of UKA UKA Racing’s success is the talent of helmsman Lorenzo Bressani. He is most commonly known as ‘Rufo’ – an Italian nickname he earned as a youngster in Trieste for his innate ability to spot the breeze from the patterns on the water. Michetti says that he spotted Bressani’s potential from the very first moment he sailed a Melges 24. ‘I watched him sail and I knew straight away that he was something special. It is not just his ability to make the boat go fast that makes him good. Last week in Hyeres we had a couple of occasions when we had to pull through the fleet after difficult starts. On both occasions Rufo managed to sail in dirty air for almost the entire beat without losing speed. Not many helmsmen have the ability to do that and this is one of the things which gives us an edge.’

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