Bribón made first place in the general classification in the Breitling MEDCUP TP52 Circuit after the two regattas held today. The winds raised some complications for the regatta and therefore required decisive and precise tactics.
Valencia, 29th June. Orlanda-Olympus, skippered by Tomasso Chieffi won the first leg of today´s race with great authority. Despite the decrease in wind intensity during the race, from eleven to seven knots, and the constant changes in direction, the boat skippered by Chieffi held a strong lead from start to finish
In this second event in the Breitling MEDCUP TP52 Circuit, a total of nine teams are present, seven of which had already debuted in Punta Ala, Italy (Bribón, Caixa Galicia, Lexus, Pisco Sour-Leche Pascual, Atalanti XV,Bambakou y Orlanda Olympus) and the two newcomers Aifos from the Spanish Armada and Cristabella owned by John Cook.
In the first race, Orlanda-Olympus was leading after having rounded the windward buoy while Pisco Sour with Vasco Vascotto at the helm (also the skipper of the America´s Cup Mascalzone Latino) was putting up a great fight with Lexus for second place. Closing the fleet, were the group of boats who had opted to stay to the right of the course such as Bribón, Caixa Galicia, Cristabella and Atalanti XV. The rest of the fleet followed the lead of Orlanda-Olympus, whilst Lexus, skippered by three time America´s Cup winner Russell Coutts, crossed the finishing line 14 seconds behind the Italian. The Bribon was the protagonist of an spectacular recovery, finishing in third place just 28 seconds slower than the leader, followed by Pisco Sour, Bambakou, Aifos, Caixa Galicia, Atalanti XV and Cristabella who closed the classifications.
After finishing in last place in Punta Ala, the Italian Skipper, Tomasso Chieffi, has called on his Spanish colleague from the +39, Rafa Trujillo (Silver medallist in Athens), as tactician, and Ian Moore from Emirates Team New Zealand as Navigator. It seems to be a winning formula.
The second leg began at 16:15, with wind speeds of 11 knots which remained fairly stable throughout the race, with variations in direction in different areas of the race course. The start was lead by Pisco Sour, although Lexus overtook to lead the fleet. Caixa Galicia suffered somewhat at the start, but manoeuvred to place themselves in third position at the windward marker, behind Lexus in first place and Bribón in second.
Bribón’s recovery was spectacular throughout the length of the race., as they finished in first place, leading the general classifications in front of Lexus with Russell Coutts, who came in second, on joint points with the first.
The show was impressive, especially as the distance between the vessels at the markers was minimal, making a very close race indeed. After the official presentation at 9:30 am in the Real Club Naútico de Valencia, the 9 Transpacs present will start a tough 40 mile Coastal Inshore race.
The America's Cup Meteorological Data Service (MDS) will be available to all 12 competitors in the Cup, following breakthrough mediation by the Jury resulting in a change to the Protocol for the 32nd America's Cup. The Protocol amendment involves the costing and payment by the event organisers for the service and specifically bans teams from combining the information provided with GPS, radar or lidar systems to assess another competitor's performance.
The MDS was an initiative created in the Protocol for the 32nd America's Cup by the Defender (the Société Nautique de Genève) and the Challenger of Record (the Golden Gate Yacht Club). It will be an overall cost saving measure for the teams by avoiding duplication of similar data gathering programmes as we saw in the last several editions of the Cup, where several of the better-funded teams deployed up to seven weather boats each. The Protocol directed the Regatta Director to implement an MDS and work began early in 2004 on the project.
The MDS is a state of the art programme providing raw weather information (wind direction, speed, barometric pressure, humidity) through a system of 21 purpose-built buoys placed on the North and South race course areas off Valencia. 11 of the met buoys have already been deployed and up to six land-based stations will be part of the network.
As part of an agreement with Consorcio 2007, a vertical wind profiler that provides wind shear information every 50-metres up to an altitude of two-kilometres will also be available to the competitors. Through a close partnership with Puertos del Estado, two additional buoys will be added to the network to provide wave and current information for the race course area.
MDS - a great equaliser
The MDS programme is a great equaliser in the sense that all 12 teams will be given the same raw material from which to base their weather forecasting, their yacht design work, and also to decide the crucial first windward leg tactics.
Teams can still gain a competitive advantage through their forecasting models and ability and the way they utilise and interpret the raw data. The MDS team has also developed a software package that displays all the data collected and allows the teams to do a visual analysis of the wind field on and around the race course.
"The MDS as it is set-up will provide an unprecedented amount of information, at a very high degree of accuracy, as well as some tools to analyse that information," said Glyn Davies, manager of the MDS for the America's Cup organisers. "We have spent a lot of time researching, designing and building weather buoys that are state-of-the-art, designed just for this purpose. The teams are excited by the programme, especially some of the smaller teams, who would otherwise be unable to gather and use this much information."
Prior to the new Protocol agreement, eight of 12 teams had already subscribed (with one more team indicating a firm intention to do so) to the programme on a cost recovery basis. As before, the new arrangement for the MDS is non-compulsory, but full subscription is expected with 10 teams having signed on as of the end of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts on June 26th 2005. Teams will have access to all of the data gathered to date (information was collected beginning in May 2004) regardless of when they sign up to the programme.
Racing Coville record try. Geronimo progress
News Double honors
Great Lakes Water is oil. Queens Cup
Having left New York bay last night in order to reach Ambrose Light, Francis Joyon crossed the starting line of the Transatlantic record (W to E) today at 08:42'26'' GMT.
To beat Laurent Bourgnon's record, the IDEC trimaran must reach the Lizard before July 7, at 11:16'08'' GMT.
The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association of North America (ICSA) has announced the members of its 2004/2005 ICSA/Ronstan All-America Sailing Team. Also named were the College Sailor of the Year, Quantum Female College Sailor of the Year, Sportsman of the Year and the winner of the Leonard M. Fowle Memorial Trophy for the all-around best college team. The ICSA All-American honors are awarded to competitors who demonstrated outstanding performance in competition during the college sailing year (fall and spring seasons) just concluded. A panel of representatives from each of the seven ICSA districts reviews each sailor’s individual results and sailors are named to the team as All-Americans, Women’s All-Americans and/or All-American Crews. Their names will be added to the permanent ICSA Hall of Fame display located in the Robert Crown Sailing Center at the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Md.).
College Sailor of the Year – Mikee Anderson-Mitterling
The Everett B. Morris Trophy, presented annually to the College Sailor of the Year, has been awarded to University of Southern California junior Mikee Anderson-Mitterling (San Diego, Calif.), who was also named an All-American for the third year running. Highlights of his sailing year include placing second at the ICSA Sloop North Americans, and, sailing in A-Division, finishing second at the St Francis Intersectional, first at the Navy Fall Intersectional, third at the ICSA/Gill North American Coed Dinghy Championship and first at the Thompson Trophy which USC went on to win.
"The most memorable performance was the Thompson Cup," said Anderson-Mitterling, "because we were doing so horribly on the first day, and the second day we turned it on and closed a 25-point gap to win A-Division. We also won the Navy Fall Regatta by about 25 points.
"I’m actually surprised I won this award, but I guess the formula for points worked in my favor," said Anderson-Mitterling, with a nod to a few others whom he thinks could have handily won. "It’s really cool. It’s the one thing that you sail for in college, but I was really using college sailing as a platform for the Olympics. It’s a great addition to my resume -- it’s that extra thing that says I’ve really worked hard at something and been rewarded for it."
Anderson-Mitterling is currently in Kiel, Germany, training and racing with his 470 Olympic crew and fellow San Diegan David Hughes. "Our schedule is quite active," said Anderson-Mitterling. "Out of our three months off this summer, we will be sailing for two and three-quarters of a month."
Quantum Female College Sailor of the Year – Anna Tunnicliffe
Anna Tunnicliffe (Perrysburg, Ohio) has been named the 2005 Quantum Female College Sailor of the Year -- an annual award to the female skipper who has compiled the best overall sailing record for the academic year. The Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Va.) graduating senior was also named an ICSA/Ronstan Women’s All-American for the third consecutive year.
Tunnicliffe had a standout performance at the ICSA/Vanguard North American Women's Singlehanded Championship where she won 11 of 16 races to claim that championship crown. As an A-Division skipper she also finished first at the Dellenbaugh Trophy, the Women's Atlantic Coast Championship, and the ICSA North American Women's Championship.
"Winning this award is a great honor," said Tunnicliffe. "It shows that I’ve put a lot of hard work in, and it makes me feel that the work was worthwhile. My sailing team at ODU became my family – and my coach Mitch Brindley is the best I've ever had. He taught me so much about myself and my sailing that I would not be nearly as good as I am without having sailed here at ODU."
Tunnicliffe has begun an Olympic campaign in the Laser Radial and plans to train in Virginia through the end of August before moving permanently to Fort Lauderdale to facilitate her training. Several trips to Europe this summer will include Germany (Kiel Week), Croatia (Europeans) and Turkey (World University Games). She will also sail in the Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship this September in Annapolis.
"I definitely get my competitiveness from my parents," said Tunnicliffe. "My dad is a competitive sailor; my mom is a competitive marathoner. My Olympic progression, however, is something I’ve wanted for myself."
Sportsman of the Year – JM Modisette
The Robert H. Hobbs Trophy for the Outstanding Sportsman of the Year was awarded to MIT graduating senior JM Modisette (Penobscot, Maine), who had previously been elected the Outstanding Sportsman of the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association two years in a row by his fellow sailors.
"JM is the type of sailor against whom everyone wants to compete," said Harvard sailing coach Mike O'Connor (Foxboro, Mass.). "He has always competed at a very high level and conducted himself in the finest manner. He is the type of student-athlete that makes our sport competitive and fun."
A prime example of Modisette's sportsmanship occurred during the 2005 New England Championships that qualified the top-four finishing schools to go to on to the grand finale of the college sailing year: the ICSA/Gill North American Coed Dinghy Championship. In the first race of the series, in 20-35 knots of wind, Modisette dropped his tiller after rounding the leeward mark. Not knowing whether he hit the mark -- an infraction that requires a 360 penalty turn -- he peeled off and did the penalty turn, losing six or seven boats in the process. It was the difference in MIT qualifying for the North Americans -- they finished sixth. "JM would rather play by the rules and keep everyone's respect," said MIT Varsity Sailing Coach Mike Kalin (Boston, Mass.). "He is very competitive, started varsity all four years, and not only did his level of ability get better, but he made everyone around him better. He kept everyone on track, recruited for MIT, and he will be sorely missed."
Although Modisette spent his early years in Southern California, his first sailing experience was on the chilly waters of Maine. After time in the junior program at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (Long Beach, Calif.), at age 10 he moved to Newport Harbor Yacht Club (Balboa, Calif.) because all the better sailors were going into 420s through that program. The family relocated to Maine and Modisette sailed throughout high school for George Stevens Academy (Blue Hill) which qualified in his junior year for the 2000 Interscholastic Sailing Association High School Nationals being held, coincidentally, at MIT, which he had already expressed interest in attending.
Modisette will return to MIT this fall to pursue a masters degree in aeronautical engineering after spending a good portion of the summer aboard Cahoots, a 43 footer that will compete in the Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
"Trying to be a nice person pays off in the end," he said of winning this award. "My dad always told me the most important thing about sailing is having fun and enjoying what you are doing."
Fowle Memorial Trophy – Harvard University
The Leonard M. Fowle Memorial Trophy, recognizing the year’s best all-around performance, determined by points accumulated at ICSA North American championships, has been awarded to Harvard University for the fifth consecutive year.
Last fall, Crimson sailors Sloan Devlin (Mystic, Conn.) and Clay Johnson (Toms River, N.J.) both finished second at the ICSA/Vanguard North American Singlehanded Championships (women and men's, respectively). This spring Harvard was seventh at the ICSA/Gill North American Coed Dinghy Championship, fourth at the ICSA/Layline North American Team Race Championship (last year tied for sixth), and the winner of the ICSA North American Women's Championship (having finished second last year).
"I am very proud of the effort put forth by our entire team over the past year," said Mike O’Connor (Foxboro, Mass.), Harvard's Head Sailing Coach. "Our team has been able to maintain a level of efficiency in our training that keeps us competitive in a range of conditions and disciplines and we feel very fortunate to have won the Fowle Trophy over such an impressive group of teams."
A full listing of the 2004/2005 ICSA/RONSTAN All-America Sailing Team follows. More information on ICSA can be found at www.collegesailing.org.
2005 COLLEGE SAILOR OF THE YEAR The Everett B. Morris Trophy
Mikee Anderson-Mittlerling (Coronado, Calif.) -- University of Southern California '06
2005 Quantum Female College Sailor of The Year
Anna Tunnicliffe (Perrysburg, Ohio) -- Old Dominion University '05
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR The Robert H. Hobbs Trophy
JM Modisette (Penobscot, Maine) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology '05
TEAM OF THE YEAR The Leonard M. Fowle Memorial Trophy
Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.)
2004/2005 ICSA/RONSTAN ALL-AMERICA SAILING TEAM
ICSA/Ronstan Coed All-American Skippers
Mikee Anderson-Mitterling (Coronado, Calif.) – University of Southern California ‘06
Zachary Brown (San Diego, Calif.) - Yale University '08
Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.) – Georgetown University ’06
Molly Carapiet (Belvedere, Calif.) – Yale University ’06
Clay Johnson (Toms River, N.J.) – Harvard University ’07
Justin Law (Newport Beach, Calif.) - St. Mary’s College ’07
Stuart McNay (Newton, Mass.) - Yale University '05
Trevor Moore (North Pomfret, Vt.) - Hobart/William Smith Colleges '07
Patrick Rynne (Scituate, Mass.) - Brown University '05
Erick Storck (Huntington, N.Y.) – Dartmouth College ’07
John Storck (Huntington, N.Y.) – Hobart/William Smith Colleges '05
Anna Tunnicliffe (Perrysburg, Ohio) - Old Dominion University ’05
ICSA/Ronstan Coed Honorable Mention:
Scott DeCurtis (Redondo Beach, Calif.) - University of Hawaii '07
Charles Enright (Bristol, R.I.) – Brown University ’07
Ben Gent (Wellesley, Mass.) - Boston College '05
Bryan Lake (San Diego, Calif.) – University of Hawaii ’05
Lee Sackett (Mentor, Ohio) - Hobart/William Smith Colleges '05
JM Modisette (Penobscot, Maine) - MIT '05
Kevin Reali (St. Petersburg, Fla.) - University of South Florida '06
David Siegal (Dartmouth, Mass.) – Tufts University ’06
Scott Stanton (Christiansted, USVI) - Texas A&M '07
Harrison Turner (Los Angeles, Calif.) - University of Southern California '05
Frank Tybor (Coronado, Calif.) - UC/Irvine '07
Andrew Watters (Oxford, Md.) - St. Mary's College '07
ICSA/Ronstan Women All-Americans
Molly Carapiet (Belvedere, Calif.) – Yale University ’06
Anne Davidson (Madison, Conn.) - Brown University '05
Sloan Devlin (Mystic, Conn.) – Harvard University ‘06
Alana O’Reilly (Charleston, S.C.) – College of Charleston ’06
Genny Tulloch (Houston, Texas) – Harvard University ’05
Anna Tunnicliffe (Perrysburg, Ohio) - Old Dominion University ’05
Sara Wilkinson (Gautier, Miss.) - College of Charleston '05
Caroline Young (Tampa, Fla.) - Stanford University '07
ICSA/Ronstan Women’s Honorable Mention
Anne Bowen (Annapolis, Md.) - College of Charleston '05
Emily East (Fairhope, Ala.) – Dartmouth College ’06
Blaire Herron (Coronado, Calif.) - Georgetown University '08
Emily Hill (Miami, Fla.) – Yale University ’07
Katie Lovelace (Greenwich, Conn.) - Brown University '07
Lauren Padilla (Grosse Point Park, Mich.) – Dartmouth College ’05
Adrienne Patterson (Newport Beach, Calif.) - St. Mary's College '08
ICSA/Ronstan All-American Crew
Emily Bartlett (Annapolis, Md.) - Old Dominion University '08
Dorothee Bergin (Wellesley, Mass.) - Georgetown University '05
Arlene Chung (Murrysville, Penn.) - Brown University '06
Christina Dahlman (Chevy Chase, Md.) - Harvard University '07
Vanessa Decollibus (Duxbury, Mass.) - University of Southern California '07
Paige Hannon (Plymouth, Mich.) - St. Mary's College '05
Sarah Himmelfarb (Falmouth, Maine) - Yale University '06
Jenn Hoyle (Manchester, Mass.) – Yale University ’05
Clementine James (Easton, Md.) – Dartmouth College ’05
Elisabeth Kreter (Severna Park, Md.) - Dartmouth College '05
Meredith Killion (Branford, Conn.) - Yale University '05
Caroline LaMotte (Oxford, Md.) - Georgetown University '07
Susan Lintern (Kirtland Hills, Ohio) - College of Charleston '06
Joy MacDougall (Waterford, Conn.) – Boston College ’05
Amanda Markee (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) - Hobart/William Smith Colleges '07
Augusta Nadler (Marion, Mass.) - Hobart/William Smith Colleges ’06
Melanie Roberts (San Diego, Calif.) - University of Southern California '07
Louise Sherman (Tiburon, Calif.) - Brown University '05
Emily Simon (Oak Brook, Ill.) - Harvard University '07
Hilary Wiech (St. Michael's, Md.) - St. Mary's College '07
2005 LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD
Michael S. Horn, Harvard University '63
The Intercollegiate Sailing Association, as well as the sport overall, has benefited greatly from the unswerving, ongoing, dedicated efforts of Mike Horn, going back to the days that he first started racing at Harvard University. His involvement included active service to his district as an undergraduate, as
a graduate student, and his continuing development of programs--both at the college level and in public programs.
Ten years after graduating from Harvard, he started down the path of coaching collegians, serving 14 years at his alma mater. His collegiate coaching also included stints at Maine Maritime Academy, Boston University, University of Southern Maine, US Coast Guard Academy, Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Brown University, and Stevens Institute.
Mike's election to service as the ICSA Executive Vice President in 1988 launched him on another 14 year commitment; one of evenhanded leadership guiding college sailing through advances of funding sources--including acquisition of championship title sponsors, rules development, instructional development, coaching development, and maturation of its championship program.
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OUTSTANDING SERVICE--VOLUNTEER
Joseph Sullivan, Fordham University '58
Joe Sullivan has been the guiding force behind the resurrection of the Fordham Sailing Team in the last 6 years. He points to others (alumni, faculty and students) as those who deserve the credit, but truth be told, Joe is the one instrumental in Fordham's rebirth.
Joe sailed as an undergraduate at Fordham from 1955-1958, serving as team captain and commodore. After a successful career in mass media, Joe turned his focus back to the Fordham Sailing Team and organized a reunion of sailing alumni in February, 1999.
Significant interest among students was noted and a team was formed with steps taken to become an Associate Member of MAISA in 2000. Joe has served as volunteer coach since the inception and has gathered a team of alumni and faculty to assist. One of the goals of Joe and the team is to receive varsity status at the university.
Monies have been raised by the Fordham afterguard all coordinated by Joe Sullivan. These funds have provided the basis for the purchase of a fleet of 9 420s, along with funds for operational expenses and equipment.
He is completely selfless in his endeavors and achievements by Fordham sailors on and off the water are his reward.
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JIM ROUSMANIERE STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD
George Yioulos, University of Oregon, '05
George Yioulos, a prime example of an ICSA student leader, has taken the University of Oregon Sailing Team from 2 sailors in his freshman year to over 20 sailors competing and practicing in his senior year. He has been a tireless advocate for the development and expansion of the Northwest district while serving as undergraduate vice-president for the past 2 years.
George was instrumental in forming a team at rival Oregon State University. He met with their sports coordinator to gain support for a team there. He also helped work on a plan to forgive the team's previous debt to the university. George encouraged practices between U/Oregon and Oregon State. His determination paid off when Oregon State joined NWICSA last fall.
As captain of the U/Oregon team George has successfully dealt with many hardships including a sailing site that is 45 minutes away from campus to sailing and practicing on a reservoir that frequently has no water for half of the school year. He has worked hard to repair relationships between the university and Eugene Yacht Club where the team practices. Under his leadership the team not only has grown in size but has successfully raised funds for 2 new FJs.
With the peak of summer sailing season upon us, Queens Cup, Mac's etc. let's not forget not all race. Some folks like to cruise and explore. For these folks here's a list of nautical attractions they can take in while ashore. They range from a German Submarine in Chicago to a Frensel Lenses on the shores of Bay de Noc. Racing or cruising may the winds be at your back, or in lieu may your diesel be strong!
Big Sable Lighthouse Ludington- Climb the 112 steps to the top of this still active light.
City of Milwaukee Visit this historic car ferry in it's new location.
Door County Maritime Museum Sturgeon Bay Learn about all aspects of maritime history at the souther end of this rich cruising ground
Dennis Sullivan Milwaukee If the Sullivan is in port learn about another era of sailing or check up on Pier Wisconsin
Friends of Good Will South Haven You can sail Lake Michigan on this new tall ship.
Milwaukee Clipper Muskegon Tour this historic ship on Lake Michigan
Sand Point Light This Up located light has a Frensel lenses on sight.
Submarines Chicago, Manitowoc, Muskegon. Explore multiple sides of the U boat war.
Swimmers at Lake Michigan and Lake Superior beaches over the holiday weekend should know about possible rip currents and how to survive them, according to Wisconsin Sea Grant Water Safety specialist James Lubner.
"Rip currents are a significant concern for swimmers at Great Lakes
beaches," Lubner said. "They can occur in many places, when waves push water up on beaches. That water then flows back toward the lake, sometimes forming a strong current."
According to the United States Lifesaving Association, rip currents in the Great Lakes and oceans kill more than 100 people every year - more than tornadoes or lightning. And they account for more than 80 percent of lifeguard rescues.
Escaping from the strong currents is possible if one knows how, Lubner said.
"The key is to swim parallel to shore until you are out of the current,then swim at an angle towards shore" he said. "The currents are relatively narrow streams of water moving straight away from shore. So swimming parallel to shore will get you out of the current quickly. Then you can swim towards shore."
Not even the strongest swimmers can successfully swim directly against the current, Lubner said.
"The important thing is not to panic," he added. "Rip currents are
definitely survivable if you swim parallel to shore. And there are no so-called undertows associated with rip currents."
Identifying rip currents from shore can be difficult because the signs are subtle, Lubner said. They include areas of churning, choppy, or differently colored water. Other signals can be foam, seaweed, and debris moving away from shore. Sometimes, rip currents can produce deceptively calm channels of water between breaking waves, Lubner noted.
Lubner also cautioned swimmers and boaters to remember that the cold
waters of the Great Lakes can sap a person's energy quickly.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers these safety tips at http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov:
Learn how to swim!
When at the beach:
* Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach.
* Never swim alone.
* Learn how to swim in the surf. It's not the same as swimming in a pool or lake.
* Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don't go out.
* Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained to identify potential hazards. Ask a lifeguard about the
conditions before entering the water. This is part of their job.
* Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent
rip currents often exist along side these structures.
* Consider using polarized sunglasses when at the beach. They will help you to spot signatures of rip currents by cutting down glare and reflected sunlight off the ocean's surface.
* Pay especially close attention to children and elderly when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause loss of footing.
If caught in a rip current:
* Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
* Never fight against the current.
* Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which
you need to step to the side of.
* Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline.
When out of the current, swim at an angle--away from the
current--towards shore.
* If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or
calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
* If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to
yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.
If you see someone in trouble, don't become a victim too:
* Get help from a lifeguard.
* If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
* Throw the rip current victim something that floats--a
lifejacket, a cooler, an inflatable ball.
* Yell instructions on how to escape.
* Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else
from a rip current.
Arriving back in New York last Monday, where he got back together with his giant trimaran IDEC, which has been moored up safely in North Cove Marina in Manhattan, the yachtsman, Francis Joyon, can barely wait for the final green light from his weather expert, Jean-Yves Bernot, to set sail on his attempt at the single-handed Atlantic record. «I’m bubbling over with impatience, » he admitted. Finally, some favourable weather conditions are coming together, and after a few small jobs getting her ready, Francis may well be setting off this evening to head for Ambrose Light, the rock off New York, which marks the start of this mythical, major Atlantic record.
«I still have a few little problems left to sort out today» explained Francis Joyon calmly. «The start isn’t far off. I reckon I‘ve a 90% chance of being on the starting line tomorrow morning (Thursday).» To respect this schedule, Francis is waiting for the final recommendations from Jean Yves Bernot. The famous route planner from La Rochelle is making his last forecasts for the European area, «where records are won or lost.»
However, tonight, Joyon will also have to take his giant IDEC on the slow, perilous journey up the Hudson, passing underneath the Statue of Liberty, going under Verezziano Bridge, along the Jersey coastline, before he can reach Ambrose Light, which is almost 13 miles off New York City. The time-keepers for the World Speed Record Council will be ready to record to the nearest second the start of his attempt, which Francis himself admits is a rather Herculean task. « It’s the most difficult record to reach in single-handed racing. Just think! An average speed of almost 18 knots.»
Yet, the window in the weather that he has been waiting for for so long (IDEC has been in New York since 10th April) seems finally to be appearing. The Azores high is lazing around in mid-Atlantic, causing a strong south westerly flow to blow up the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. «I’m expecting 20-25 knot winds from the start,» Joyon confirmed, «Ideal conditions, which may strengthen further on Friday to 35 knots.» Not overly excited, the Breton sailor, who really wants to get off to a good start off the American coast, where you very often can come across small, almost invisible, weather systems. He will soon be facing some speedy conditions under the gennaker, as he passes under Newfoundland, and some choppy seas in the Gulf Stream, forcing the sailor to keep a permanent lookout for the many fishing boats in the area. He will be busy going from the chart table to adjustments out on deck and long hours at the helm. No time for dreaming under starry skies ahead for Francis, who is fully determined to show what he is capable of once again. «I’m in fine form. I spent four hours in the water yesterday cleaning off her bottom. A bit of diving wakes you up.»
Team Stelmar has extended their lead by 5nm today, edging ahead as the fleet races downwind at an average of 9 knots. 48 hours ago SAIC La Jolla were enjoying a lead of 25nm and the 9 yachts placed 2nd to 10th were only 4nm apart in terms of distance to finish.
Now SAIC La Jolla is in second and only 3nm ahead of third place Imagine It. Done. who have moved steadily through the fleet from eighth place four days ago to third place this afternoon. But Dee Caffari and her crew are in a similar predicament as SAIC La Jolla because Me to You is just 1nm behind them, challenging their hold on a podium position.
The whole fleet is still only separated by 46nm and this being the penultimate opportunity to rack up points on the overall leaderboard, every mile won or lost will be getting increasingly poignant for skippers and crews.
Eero Lehtinen and his crew aboard SAIC La Jolla will be particularly concerned about the weather over the next 24 hours. Since this morning’s position report they have maintained an average speed in line with the rest of the fleet at just over 9 knots, but the wind looks set to favour teams to the north.
“The pressure is on,” wrote Jim Walker from SAIC La Jolla this afternoon, “we have watched the rest of the fleet make gains on us since rounding Waypoint Charlie on Saturday. Their northerly position has seen better winds and a poor angle and a southeasterly flowing current has kept us from getting up to cover them. With the new wind coming in shortly we should have more options open to us, until then we can only maximise the VMG and try to limit the damage.”
In fact, they are not the only team to suffer - speeds across the fleet have been slowly dropping off, making the wet conditions more frustrating according to Team Stelmar skipper Clive Cosby: “The wind has eased considerably and we are getting rained on in a big way. We did not mind when clocking up 11 knots down the line now at 8 it is more uncomfortable.
“Now is the time of transition to the next weather pattern,” continued Clive, “as an oddly shaped high-pressure system will give northerlies backing to the west … things [are] looking good for us, between SAIC La Jolla to the southeast with less wind closer to the high, and BG SPIRIT leading the pack to the left closer to the lighter stuff trailing the front.”
Racing Trombini skippers. Opti NA's
News AC thoughts
Great Lakes Toronto terminal opens. Trio takes trip. Beau Geste
2500 nautical miles and six days after leaving Sydney Harbour, the Capgemini and Schneider Electric trimaran Geronimo is well on her way around the country in her circumnavigation record attempt of Australia for the sydneyaustralia.com trophy. Having sailed up the New South Wales and Queensland coast and through the challenging Torres Straits the boat is now well into the waters off the top of the Northern Territory.
Having negotiated the difficult waters at the mouth of Torres Strait on Sunday night, the giant multihull had to pick her way through the maze of islands that are located in this region as well as deal with storms and squalls during her night passage. ‘It's difficult and tortuous. The night was black and we were shooting through at over 20 knots between invisible reefs. It was nerve-racking’ said Olivier de Kersauson yesterday about his passage through the Torres Strait. At 140 miles wide, the Torres Straits are rough and inundated by strong currents of up to seven knots. ‘We have total trust in Geronimo, because most of us are so familiar with the boat. Having Australian crew members on board is a considerable bonus, the atmosphere is excellent, and one of them, who knows these waters well, is acting as pilot for us – which is by no means a luxury here!’
Currently situated North West of Darwin outside Melville and Bathurst Islands and in the Timor Sea, Geronimo will cross the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and will soon be heading into Western Australian waters and in the direction of Derby, Broome and the Buccaneer Archipelago on Western Australia’s North West coast. Geronimo is currently sailing at approximately 20 knots and travelling in a westerly direction. Predicted trade winds should allow Geronimo to maintain good speeds on her passage to the North West Cape.
‘We admire the courage of our Australian crew on board, they have an amazing capacity of adaptation. An unknown boat, unknown speeds and stress, unknown crew, unknown language, and they did not have any time to discover or learn. They just jumped directly in the most difficult and demanding sailing experience’ commented de Kersauson ‘The problem with big multihulls is that every manoeuvre has to be anticipated in a very specific way. And you need to forget most of your habits from big monohulls or small multihulls...And to explain this in English with the Australian accent is a long job for me, I admire their patience’.
Reaching top speeds of approximately 30 knots Geronimo is on her way to setting a record for The Challenge that will entice other yachts to try and break in the future.
The Coast Guard’s Operation Midnight Badger will be operating at full bells over the long Independence Day weekend. Intoxicated boaters beware, for the eye of the Badger could be upon you. Rather than celebrating the nation’s independence you could be bemoaning your incarceration.
In 2004, Coast Guard Group Milwaukee launched Operation Midnight Badger with the sole intention of removing intoxicated boaters from the water. By the end of the boating season, Badger crews roaming the waters along the western shore of Lake Michigan had nabbed 161 drunk boaters.
Captain Scott La Rochelle, Commanding Officer, Group Milwaukee wrote a recent piece for Great Lakes Boating addressing the Badger campaign. You boaters who are inclined to drink while operating a boat, I urge you to read the following account of a Badger bust. The story imparts a sobering message.
*
You’re in Command
By Capt. Scott Larochelle
Slicing through the moonlit waters, the crew remains vigilant, ever watchful for a potential target. Amid a spectacular skyline backdrop of America’s third largest city, an eerie silence, save for the broken crackle of commercial mariners chattering from one of the mounted VHF marine band radio speakers in the cabin of Coast Guard boat 255058.
“I’ve got a good feeling tonight,” Boatswain Mate Second Class Jim Pierce softly speaks to the boat crew from Station Wilmette Harbor. The crew, Boatswain Mate First Class Chris Evans, Machinist Mate Third Class Matt Ladnier and Seaman Mike Rodriquez, nod in silent agreement.
“Hit the lights and siren, let’s go boys,” Evans barks out as a 32-foot go fast casts a broad wake while speeding northbound parallel to the Chicago Harbor breakwater. In seconds, Evans drops the throttle down, and powered by twin 225 horsepower engines, CG-255058 engages in hot pursuit. The chase doesn’t last long; it rarely does. The sight and sound of the blue flashing light and emergency siren emanating from the Coast Guard’s Defender Class Homeland Security boat achieve the desired effect. In a scenario that was played out hundreds of times on Lake Michigan this summer, the Coast Guard is quickly alongside, and the boarding team led by Pierce steps on board the now-idling go fast.
Upon boarding, Pierce immediately assesses the situation – two average-build men, two women, ice chest on deck, cup holders on the console containing beer cans. After determining no weapons are on board, Pierce methodically completes the safety inspection, known internally as a CG-4100 boarding, while Ladnier and Rodriquez maintain overall security of the scene.
Lifejackets, flares and other safety equipment are carefully checked to ensure compliance with federal law. Vessel registration documents and crew identification are verified. As the boat operator clumsily moves about to gather the required safety items, Pierce makes a mental note of his unsteady balance, which appears excessive given the calm sea state on this humid mid-summer night.
After the CG-4100 boarding is completed, Pierce requests the operator sit in the rear of the boat while he administers a series of field sobriety tests to determine if the operator is intoxicated. These tests nearly mirror those given by highway patrolmen to suspected drunk drivers during roadside stops. The operator fails four of six tests. The operator voluntarily agrees to a breathalyzer test, and proceeds to register a blood alcohol content of 0.13, well above the legal limit of 0.08 for intoxicated operation.
Game over. The operator and his crew’s night of fun and partying on Lake Michigan is over. About two months later, a Coast Guard Hearing Officer in Washington, DC levies a $2,200 civil penalty – a stiff fine, but less than the $5,500 maximum penalty for federal Boating Under the Influence.
“It’s 0430,” Evans replies. “Let’s go home.” And with morning twilight breaking upon a just-waking Chicago skyline, Evans turns the wheel and CG-255058 quietly begins its transit north toward Wilmette as the crew silently gazes upon the horizon.
“They’re out there,” Evans chimes in. “It’s up to us to find them.”
*
Midnight Badger’s primary mission objective: remove drunk boaters off the water for their own safety, their passengers’ safety and the safety of other boaters. This mission objective drives Coast Guard boarding officers. Pierce said, “One fewer drunken boater on the water, one fewer boating accident in the making, and potentially one or more fewer fatalities waiting to happen.”
And sadly fatalities do happen. Of the 150 recreational boating fatalities in the Great Lakes region last year, 37% involved alcohol. Already into this young boating season I’m aware of 12 boating fatalities. Of those five involved alcohol.
And nothing fuels the Badger cause more than when Coast Guard boarding officers find a child’s safety put at risk by a drunk boater. Several weeks ago, Coast Guardsman Justin Klitch of Motor Life Boat Station Michigan City, boarded an18-foot boat after he observed two toddlers aboard not wearing life jackets. Michigan law requires a child six years and younger to wear a life jacket on an open boat.
Officer Klitch said: “No sooner did I get on the boat than the obvious signs of an intoxicated boater greeted me.” The male operator got testy. “I handcuffed him, and handed him over to local authorities.” Officer Klitch added, “There were not enough life jackets aboard for the six kids. The operator blew .20 on the breathalyzer.”
Boaters on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, beware. Coast Guard Group Grand Haven has its own version of Midnight Badger—I call it Midnight Wolverine. The only difference between the groups’ mission objectives is the animal namesakes. Jim Pierce speaks for all the Badger and Wolverine crews when he said, “We made a positive impact improving safety last year. But we expect to make even more of a difference this year.”
Boaters bent on enjoying the nation’s hard-earned independence this holiday weekend can assure their own independence by keeping the Badger and Wolverine at bay. Boat Smart—boat sober.
Racing A Cat Worlds. Etchells NA's
News Geronimo Record. ENZ outlook
Great Lakes Trip Ends.
The decision has been taken this morning by the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team for the 75-foot trimaran <
However, Ellen MacArthur will still be participating in the pre-arranged activities on board HMS Ocean today and on HMS Invincible this evening. Skipper of the trimaran commented: "It is with real regret that we had to take this decision not to be part of this great historic spectacle, but <
The crew of the ABN AMRO TWO finished first in the 4,500 plus mile Route de l'Equateur race from Marseille, France to Congo-Brazzaville. Competing against four other boats, the team finished the race in 22 days, 16 hours and 28 minutes. The crew sailed a 60-foot V60 boat formerly known as the Tyco.
For most of the team members this was their first race crossing the equator. In the yachting world, this is something of a rite of passage. This trip was no exception. The team of ABN AMRO TWO took the lead from the start, and at times maintained a lead of about 200 miles ahead of their nearest competitor.
The team of ABN AMRO TWO exists of twelve young high potential professional sailors between the ages of 21 and 30 with extensive sailing experience with smaller boats but who've never sailed together as a team. In less than six months they will sail together in the Volvo Ocean Race.
The team used the Route de l'Equateur race to get to know and trust each other. The Volvo Ocean Race is a seven month long competition, covering over 31,000 nautical miles. Teams will be at sea for up to 30 days at a time, so trust, communication and teamwork are a key factor for success.
Most of the young sailors were selected during a worldwide competition that was launched in November 2004 on the ABN AMRO website and received more than 1,800 submissions. It's the first time an open selection process, started on internet, was used to select a young, relatively inexperienced crew for the Volvo Ocean Race.
After four separate qualifying competitions - one for the Netherlands, one for Brazil, one for the United States and one for 'the rest of the world' - a total of 20 candidates traveled to Portugal for the final crew selection and eight made the cut this March. An additional four core crew members are more experienced offshore sailors who also never sailed the Volvo Ocean Race before.
Established in 1973 as The Whitbread Round the World Race, the Volvo Ocean Race is undeniably the world's premier global race and arguably the most challenging sporting event in the world. The 2005-2006 race will take off from Spain in November 2005 and runs its final leg into Gothenburg, Sweden in the summer of 2006. This is recognised as one of the fastest and most intense races in the world of sailing.
Current US Sailing Team-members Mikee Anderson-Mitterling (Coronado, Calif.), and Dave Hughes (San Diego, Calif.) won the 470 Men's class at the Kiel Week regatta in Germany this weekend, defeating 57 boats to take home the trophy. Since Anderson-Mitterling and Hughes started racing together earlier this year, this was their first win at an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 1 event; the team finished second at US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR last January.
Mikee Anderson-Mitterling, who will celebrate his 21st birthday in a few weeks, has been enjoying a successful year thus far, having recently been named as the 2004/2005 College Sailor of the Year by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association.
"Mikee and Dave now join Olympic medalists Paul Foerster and Bob Merrick as the only American 470 Men's teams to win Kiel Week," said Skip Whyte, US Sailing Team coach. "They clearly like being on the podium and there is no doubt that they will be back there before long."
There were 586 entries from 50 nations that participated in Kiel Week and American sailors put on a good show. Besides Anderson-Mitterling and Hughes, three other U.S. teams finished in the top ten of their classes. In the 74-boat Women's Laser Radial Class, 18-year-old Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) finished second behind Gintare Volungeviciute of Lithuania, missing winning the event by just one point and reminding her fellow competitors that she is to be reckoned with. U.S. sailors George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.), and Eric Monroe (Newport Harbor, Calif.) finished an impressive second in the 44-boat Star fleet, only four points behind the winners, Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki of Poland. US Sailing Team-members Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) and Sarah Mergenthaler (Harvey Cedars, N.J.), finished eighth out of 35 boats in the Women's 470 class.
The Spirit of Canada SpiritCam is now up and running at the build site of the new Open 60 Spirit of Canada.
Special thanks to FileBank (www.filebank.ca) for supplying us with the camera, this will allow people from around the world to view one of the latest technologies in boat building and be up to date with the Spirit of Canada project from their own desk.
To view live pictures of the build of the new boat, go to: http://www.spiritofcanada.net/webcam/index.html. or click on the SpiritCam button under Quick Links on the homepage. The picture automatically refreshes every five seconds.
Spirit of Canada is a state of the art 60 foot racing machine, these boats are among the fastest boats in sailing – built of kevlar and carbon fibre using the latest hi-tech structures, they are designed to be as light and as fast as possible but strong enough to withstand the worst the seas can throw at them.
The Open 60 is being built for the 5-Oceans around the world race in 2006. The 5-Oceans is the newly branded name of Around Alone, sailing’s ultimate solo challenge. The 5-Oceans race is billed as “the longest, toughest race for an individual in any sport.”
BMW ORACLE Racing completed the Louis Vuitton Act 5 fleet regatta in
Valencia in 4th place overall after three days of primarily light-air racing.
USA-76 skipper and tactician John Kostecki said the team had learned
valuable lessons in the Acts 4 and 5 regattas and would apply them in testing in the months ahead as the team continues design work towards the America's Cup in 2007. The team will also continue in-house training in July in preparation for this season's four additional regattas starting with Louis Vuitton Act 6 in Malmo, Sweden, 25th August.
In the final race today, a broken gennaker on the first downwind run cost BMW ORACLE Racing dearly and undid the steady progress USA-76 had made through the fleet in the open stages of the race.
After a bold and unconventional port-tack start behind the fleet, USA-76 worked its way into contention, rounding the first mark in 5th place and then attacking down the leeward run to claim 3rd place at one point.
However, the light-wind gennaker ripped during a gybe and, by the time a replacement gennaker was hoisted, USA-76 had slid back down the fleet. Going into the final race, BMW ORACLE Racing was still in contention for the overall win, but the final race result destroyed any chance of a top placing.
After a Race Committee protest against Victory Challenge for a breach of the class rules, the Swedish team was disqualified from Race 4, which cost the team overall victory in Act 5.
FINAL RACE SUMMARY -- BMW ORACLE Racing elected to make a bold move at the start, crossing behind the fleet on port tack and then shooting out for the right hand side of the course. The tactic paid off and, after playing the shifts well up the first windward leg, USA-76 rounded the mark in 5th place.
Down the first leeward run, USA-76 continued to press the attack, moving up to 3rd place at one stage. However, as the team gybed from starboard onto port to move into the middle of the course, their light-wind gennaker split across, a third of the way from the top.
In the light fickle breeze, the loss of momentum was punishing and, by the time a replacement gennaker was set, USA-76 had slid back in the fleet.
The team rounded the leeward mark 11th, picked up a place on the next upwind leg, but were unable to make any further inroads and finished in 10th place.
The Spanish Desafio Espanol 2007 team won the race, closely followed by Mascalzone Latino Capitalia and Victory Challenge.
QUOTES:
John Kostecki, BMW ORACLE Racing skipper/tactician on the port tack start: "At first we wanted to go left, but it looked like way too much of a fight down at the pin end of the line. We didn't want to tack and get mixed up in the bunch, so we kept going on port, dipped the fleet and started on the right. It was a smart move.
"We worked the shifts well up the beat and got ourselves in a good
position."
On the broken gennaker during the downwind run: "We had worked ourselves into 3rd place when we gybed onto port. The gennaker caught on the jumper struts in the gybe and ripped.
"There was a delay in getting a replacement up, because our spare halyard was up the mast with the wind spotter. We had to get the broken gennaker down and use that halyard for the replacement. At this point we were close to other boats and, in the light air, they took our wind. It was a big disappointment."
Overall comments on Acts 4 and 5 in Valencia: "We have learned a lot. It was good to check in and see the other teams all in Version Five. We didn't win these regattas, but we are definitely not far off the pace.
"The fleet regatta was all in light airs and we were configured for a bit more wind. Little things like that worked against us. Our boat has good speed -- probably not the fastest in light air, but we are not far off. We need to keep our heads up and keep working. We have a big testing program coming up and we will keep moving forward."
Emirates Team New Zealand emerged as the top challenger carrying maximum points from the Valencia regattas forward for the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007.
The pre-regattas this year and in 2006 carry points which count forward to the Louis Vuitton Cup, the challengers’ elimination series, in 2007. The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will challenge Alinghi for the America’s Cup.
Luna Rossa with a third overall in Act four and first in Act 5 is second challenger.
As the defender of the America’s Cup, Alinghi’s results are removed from the reckoning.
Grant Dalton said after racing today that the result was very satisfying for the team.
“We came here to get some answers. And we got them. We know where we have to sharpen our act but we are really encouraged as we develop towards 2007.
“It could be argued that the fleet racing is irrelevant in the America’s Cup which is a match racing regatta. We believe the acts are important in terms of developing the team but the big game doesn’t start until 2007.”
The team will remember fondly two races in Act 5 – the first and the third – when the team sailed well to win.
Three other races, when NZL 82 finished 9th in race two, 5th in race four yesterday and 6th today, will be remembered for the mistakes that cost so dearly.
Race four and the race five today will also be remembered for the way the crew dug deep into their reserves to claw their way back through the fleet in light conditions that provided few opportunities.
Grant Dalton said after today’s final race: “I’m in awe of our guys. They have guts, stamina and concentration and they never give up. They just stuck at it right to the end.
“We arrived in Valencia saying we were here looking for some answers about how we stacked up against the opposition after our testing programme in Auckland.
“We got a lot of the answers. Alinghi has improved but the speed edge we saw in Auckland in 2003 has almost disappeared. BMW Oracle is still dangerous as is Luna Rossa. Crew skill levels are high.
“Nipping at the heels are two really dark horses – Sweden and Spain. They didn’t race last year and they have performed very well right through both regattas.
Sweden has performed well in the fleet racing and today Spain won on their home patch.
“We have had very tough match races against Spain, Sweden and FRA 60. They are teams to watch.”
Dalton said the team’s crew work was most often spot on. “I would say that we made fewer mistakes than just about every other team. The boys are very hard on themselves when they make a mistake – and so far they have never made the same mistake twice.”
“Fleet racing may be irrelevant to the America’s Cup but it’s still a good way to measure progress. And what it showed here is that unless you sail superbly right from the moment you enter the pre-start you’re not going to do very well.”
They appeared to have won the regatta on the water, but Victory Challenge had to wait until a Jury decision was issued several hours after racing concluded to learn that they had been disqualified from the fourth race. The next boat on the leaderboard, Luna Rossa Challenge, had sailed a strong, consistent regatta, and they become the winners of Act 5.
"I don't have a preference for match racing or fleet racing," Luna Rossa skipper Francesco de Angelis told the crowd at the prize-giving ceremony. "My only preference is for winning!"
It was a heartbreaking set back for Victory Challenge, who impressed all observers with their strong performance in both Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts, but particularly in Act 5.
The protest was a technical one, after the Measurer found an unusual amount of water in the bilge of SWE 63 during a routine inspection after the fourth race. This set in motion a chain of events that saw the Race Committee obliged to protest the Swedes for the infringement of ACC Class Rule 36.12. The Jury, after receiving a report from the Measurement Committee detailing the rule infringement in the protest hearing, was left with no recourse but to disqualify Victory Challenge from the race.
The results leave Luna Rossa Challenge and Alinghi on equal points at the top of the table, but the Italians win the tie-break by virtue of having the best result in an individual race (a win in race four). Victory Challenge tumbles from first to sixth with the disqualification.
Luna Rossa was presented with a Mariscal-designed trophy following the revised results in front of a large and appreciative crowd at the America's Cup Park.
Race Five of Five
For the start of this, the fifth and final race of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 5, racing started on time and there was an even spread across the line with +39, China Team, Luna Rossa and Team Shosholoza at the pin and, as usual, United Internet Team Germany gybing around from the course side of the Race Committee boat.
Half way up the beat James Spithill and his Italian team on Luna Rossa had edged ahead on up the middle of the course with Victory Challenge holding second position to their left and Alinghi coming across from the right side. But towards the end of the first beat Desafío Español, with Karol Jablonski back on the helm today, hit the left hand side of the course hard, a move that paid handsomely come the first mark rounding.
Approaching the top mark the top three boats were side by side with Luna Rossa on the inside, the Spanish in the middle and Victory Challenge on the outside. Rounding the mark, the Spanish managed to hold their speed and edged ahead to take the lead, as the Swedes on Victory Challenge rolled Luna Rossa to take second by the spreader mark. At this stage Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand were down the pack holding eighth and ninth places respectively.
Rather than the run being a procession as we have seen on previous days, several boats gybed early to take their chances on the right side of the course. The major beneficiary of this tactic was Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team. Coming into the leeward mark the Spanish team were still ahead with Luna Rossa and Victory Challenge charging hard and Mascalzone on their transom. BMW ORACLE Racing lost a few places when its spinnaker exploded during a gybe.
The second beat was an equally close-run affair with Victory Challenge slowly overhauling the Spanish team to momentarily take the lead. Luna Rossa seemed to lose out by hitting the left side while Mascalzone Latino once again did well on the right. The second weather mark rounding was less fraught than the first with Spain holding the lead over Victory Challenge and Mascalzone Latino, with Luna Rossa approaching from the port layline having dropped a place. At this stage the top four had pulled out a 50 second lead over +39, followed by Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi, with BMW ORACLE Racing well down the fleet in 10th place.
Once again the run saw a variation in tactics culminating in the closest finish we have seen to date in the fleet racing. Alinghi, the only boat sailing under spinnaker and staysail, seemed to put on a burst of speed on the right side of the run overhauling both +39 and Emirates Team New Zealand. But the Italian team of Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia led by Vasco Vascotto also made a final dive for the line, overtaking Victory Challenge to take second place, just three seconds short of the Spanish team, the popular winner of this final race. Alinghi also approached the line at speed and was within one second of taking fourth place off Luna Rossa. Nobody knew it at the time, but this close finish is what allowed the Italians to win the event.
The technical protest and eventual Jury decision disqualifying Victory Challenge shouldn't be allowed to overshadow an impressive and courageous day of sailing by the Swedes. After dealing with two protest issues on Saturday night and through Sunday morning, this small team, led by Magnus Holmberg, went out to the race course late and yet still sailed its heart out on the water beating the 'big four' in the race on Sunday. Victory Challenge will re-group and enjoy sailing on home waters off Malmö-Skåne in Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7 beginning on August 25th.
Results
Points Leaderboard Race Results Overall Points
Luna Rossa Challenge (2, 6, 6, 1, 4) 46
Alinghi (3, 7, 2, 2, 5) 46
Emirates Team New Zealand (1, 9, 1, 5, 6) 43
BMW ORACLE Racing (5, 5, 3, 3, 10) 39
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (12, 1, 5, 7, 2) 38
Victory Challenge (4, 2, 7, DSQ, 3) 36
K-Challenge (7, 4, 4, 6, 9) 35
Desafío Español 2007 (8, 8, 9, 8, 1) 31
+39 Challenge (10, 3, 10, 9, 7) 26
United Internet Team Germany (6, 11, 8, 4, 11) 25
China Team (11,12,12,10,8) 12
Team Shosholoza (9, 10, 11, 11,12)12
Several hundred spectator boats took in some great fleet racing action on Saturday at the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 5. It was a hot day on the waters off Valencia and for the big spectator fleet, the light conditions meant patience would likely be a virtue.
In a repeat of yesterday, a general recall was sounded immediately after the start, and the recall was replaced by a postponement when the wind shifted.
After a short delay, the Race Committee re-aligned the course and with the conditions more stable, racing started at 14:45 when a seven-knot Easterly breeze filled in.
Victory Challenge was strong on the water in both races, and left the race course leading the overall points table. However a protest by the Race Committee against the Swedes for a possible measurement infringement, and a protest by Victory Challenge against the Race Committee for the scoring in the first race of the day means the results are very provisional.
Race One
In a dramatic start Emirates Team New Zealand took the pin end of the line and speed off to the left-hand side of the course with BMW ORACLE Racing in hot pursuit.
The Race Committee end of the line saw much more congestion with Desafío Español 2007 and China Team locked out but with Jesper Bank's United Internet Team Germany shaving just inside the Committee boat to lead the pack. In the middle of the line Victory Challenge was forced to carry out a penalty turn for an infringement.
The left side paid handsomely for both the Kiwi and US teams. BMW ORACLE was the first to tack back to the centre and briefly edged ahead. Meanwhile hoping to repeat their performance in race two yesterday, Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team moved up to third place also benefiting from more wind on the left. At the first mark rounding Emirates TNZ led the Americans by 19-seconds.
The impressive sight of 12 America's Cup Class boats under spinnaker heading down the run saw Alinghi fighting hard. Eventually the Swiss team was able to roll Mascalzone Latino to take third place. Meanwhile Emirates TNZ extended her lead rounding the left gate (looking upwind) while BMW ORACLE Racing continued to the right, the two boats starting the second beat on split tacks.
With the breeze building to double figures, Emirates TNZ and BMW Oracle defended the centre of the beat while Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team pulled a flier out to the far right. This didn't seem to pay and by the second weather mark rounding the front three had 59 seconds of separation from a tightly packed group led by the Italians, but with K-Challenge, Luna Rossa and Victory Challenge hot on their heels.
On to the final run, Alinghi gybed early and a while after Emirates Team New Zealand covered to protect their lead, leaving a situation where BMW Oracle was taking the right side of the run, Alinghi the left and the Kiwis looking anxiously in both directions between the two.
Approaching the finish line Emirates TNZ was able to maintain its lead and while Alinghi, coming across on starboard forced BMW ORACLE Racing to duck its transom. The American team cut this too close forcing them to blow off their gennaker and carry out the tightest of penalty turns, ultimately costing them second place, when Alinghi finished 23-seconds astern of a jubilant Emirates Team New Zealand. A further reversal of fortunes saw fourth place taken by K-Challenge over Mascalzone-Latino Capitalia Team, while Victory Challenge took and Luna Rossa finished extremely close for sixth place. The Race Committee gave the nod to the Italians, but after racing, Victory Challenge lodged a protest with the Jury.
Race Two
The Swedish team, led by helmsman/skipper Magnus Holmberg, didn't let their close finish in the first race distract them, as a dominating performance in the second scene on Saturday saw the Swedes as clear victors. They now hold the overall lead but only by a point over Alinghi, going into tomorrow's race of Act 5.
The breeze was marginally up for the start of today's second race with +39, Luna Rossa and Alinghi taking the pin end. From the mid-left of the first beat Victory Challenge pulled ahead from Luna Rossa, but it was close and the two boats were jockeying for pole position.
Generally up the first beat teams seemed to take every available option with United Internet Team Germany, K-Challenge and Mascalzone Latino -Team Capitalia far right, while Emirates TNZ went far left. Despite the variation in tactics across the race course, the result was much more even than it had been in today's first race creating a tense scenario at the weather mark. Here Victory Challenge led Luna Rossa around by 16 seconds but in one of the most hair-raising few seconds we have seen to date in Valencia, Emirates TNZ approached on port tack and barged in front of Alinghi.
The fleet came within a whisker of a multiple pile-up just before the weather mark. Tacking hard to port, the transom of the Kiwi boat nearly collided with Alinghi's SUI 75; as the Swiss boat rounded up, its transom in turn nearly collided with the bow of the Defasio Espanol 2007, with the same result on fifth placed K-Challenge. Fortunately there were no collisions, but the Kiwis were penalised for their actions and forced to carry out a penalty turn.
One the run, Victory Challenge was able to maintain its lead over Luna Rossa, rounding the leeward gate just 11 seconds ahead. Up the beat again there seemed to be no side clearly paying with the Swedes hitting the centre-right side of the course. But through this approach and sailing in clear air they were able to extend their lead to 45 seconds at the top mark, a margin they also managed to hold on the final run to the finish line.
Racing is scheduled to continue on Saturday with two more fleet races beginning at 14:10.
Results
Points Leaderboard Race Results Overall Points
Victory Challenge (4, 2, 7, 1) 38
Alinghi (3, 7, 2, 3) 37
Luna Rossa Challenge (2, 6, 6, 2) 36
Emirates Team New Zealand (1, 9, 1, 6) 35
BMW ORACLE Racing (5, 5, 3, 4) 35
K-Challenge (7, 4, 4, 7) 30
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (12, 1, 5, 8) 26
United Internet Team Germany (6, 11, 8, 5) 22
+39 Challenge (10, 3, 10, 10) 19
Desafío Español 2007 (8, 8, 9, 9) 18
Team Shosholoza (9, 10, 11, 12) 10
China Team (11, 12, 12, 11) 6
The final day of Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex was "a real beauty," with south winds building to 18-20 knots by mid-day, putting plenty of muscle behind two races in all classes except the PHRF non-spinnaker class, which completed one scheduled race. The action-packed day was the perfect topper for four previous mostly-sunny days with challenging winds that made the 21st running of this biennial event another memorable one for more than 2000 sailors on 190 boats.
"For us, today was the best racing all week," said Mark Ploch (New York, N.Y.), skipper of M&M's, the undefeated winner in the Beneteau 36.7 class. "It was the closest with Jubilee (Cal Huge, Summerville, S.C.) that we've had. They were right with us to the first mark, and we barely got ahead of her. When we fouled our spinnaker at the leeward mark, she caught up with us again." Prior to today's two victories, Ploch claimed his string of eight victories was relatively easy to complete by repeatedly pulling away from the fleet shortly after starting. According to crewmember Rand Milton (Bridgewater,N.J.), the stellar performance was to be expected. "Collectively," he said, "there's got to be 200 years of experience on the boat!" Ploch, a sailmaker known for his grand prix racing record, bought M&M's as a family racing/cruising boat in the fall of 2004 and has won every regatta that he and his wife have entered with it since. For his performance here today, Ploch will add the 2005 Beneteau 36.7 New England Championship title to his list of sailing accomplishments.
Winning the Farr 395 North American Championship title here was Preben Ostberg and Bud Dailey's (Edgewater, Maryland) Tsunami, with three victories in nine races. "Everybody worked real hard," said Dailey. "Today we ended up with two seconds. In the first race, Coyote (Bill Lemens, W. Redding, Conn.), which wound up second overall, lost a crew overboard in a jibe, so that helped us, because they were ahead at the time. The second race was pretty straightforward. We just kept our boat speed, made sure we didn't do anything stupid; not real conservative, but not crazy either."
In the Farr 40 class, it came down to the wire in the last race before Warpath (Steve & Fred Howe, San Diego, Calif.) prevailed to win. "We made it hard for ourselves in the first race by being over early," said jib trimmer Dave Armitage (Newport, R.I.), explaining that, despite the setback of having to restart well after the rest of the fleet had cleared the line, his team worked its way back up to third. "We had one point over Mean Machine (Peter de Ridder, Monaco) going into the last race, and we won that one." Warpath's tactician Ed Adams (Middletown, R.I.) added that the two boats did a couple of match-racing type circles at the start, and Mean Machine had them pinned for most of the beat before Warpath pulled ahead. The boat's spread in overall scoring over Mean Machine was a mere two points.
Other one-design classes competing were the Beneteau 40.7 (also vying for their New England Championships; winner--Dame Blanche, Odhmar Mueller von Blumencrom, Great Falls, Va.), J/44 (winner--Challenge IV, Jeffery Willis, Huntington Bay, N.Y.), J/120 (winner--Sarah Beth, Greg Manning, Warwick, R.I.), J/109 (contesting their East Coast Championships; winner--Phoebe's Phling, Charlie Milligan, Newport, R.I.), and J/105 (winner and defending overall champion--Pretty Sketchy, Tom Enright, Bristol, R.I.)
Rounding it out were four classes of IRC boats and five classes of PHRF boats.
Titan XII, owned and skippered by Tom Hill (San Juan, PR) crushed IRC Super Zero class, for the event's largest boats, winning seven of ten races and finishing no worse than second. "We would have had to do real bad to lose today," said Hill, explaining that the boat consistently finished several minutes ahead of the fleet each day but had to give several minutes back due to the IRC rating rule. Despite that equalizer, Titan still was unstoppable. "Because we're bigger, we can drive under and over the fleet pretty well," added Hill. But it was not all about size and the inherent speed in having a 75-foot size advantage. "With a 5,000 sq. ft. spinnaker and only mile-and-a-half legs, we had to have exceptional crew work."
In IRC Zero class, class favorite High Noon (Dennis Collins/Steve Benjamin, New York, N.Y.) suffered a devastating blow before the start of racing today. A starboard turnbuckle broke, sending the boat back to the dock and dashing all hopes of victory. Bandit (Andrew Fisher, Greenwich, Conn.) won the class after posting finish positions of 1-2 today and sealed the deal with seven points less than High Noon, which, remarkably, held on to a second position overall.
Other IRC winners were Rum Funny (Bud Suiter, La Jolla, Calif.) in IRC class one and Lora Ann (Richard du Moulin, Larchmont, N.Y.) in IRC class two. Lora Ann and Troubador (Mort Weintraub, Larchmont, N.Y.) were tied for first going into today. Today's first race proved how equally matched they were when the two boats rounded the first weather mark within seconds of each other, with Troubador leading. The spinnaker takedown on the second leg, however, determined Lora Ann's prowess as she executed faultlessly and pulled ahead. For du Moulin, who is also the Storm Trysail Club's Commodore, the victory was especially sweet: "We had four great days of conditions, only one mediocre day and a full set of races. What a way to end the race week!"
Yesterday's comfortable lead for Remedy's John Fries (Waterford, Conn.) became a solid overall victory today in PHRF class 2 when he won today's first race and-because, mathematically, his score was untouchable-sat out the second race. In PHRF class 3 Cooch (Wes Maxwell, Stonington, Conn.) topped the fleet, while in PHRF classes 4 and 5, Chinook (Carrie Austin, Ridgewood, N.Y.) and Big Time (Michael Rajacich, Easton, Md.) won, respectively.
In PHRF non-spinnaker class, Rascal (Kel Weber, Wilton, Conn.) won with three victories in five races, posting only one point less than Xenophon (Paul Pakos, Sudbury, Mass.)
Trophy Winners
Everett B. Morris Memorial Trophy for Best Overall Performance: Warpath
Isbrandtsen Overall Perpetual Trophy for the second best performance: Rum Funny
A. Justin Wasley Memorial Trophy for the overall winner of the one-design class with the largest number of entries: Pretty Sketchy
Island Sailing Club of Cowes Perpetual Trophy for the first overall IRC rated boat in the Around the Island Race (also won a Rolex oyster Perpetual Submariner timepiece): Titan XII
Vintage Yacht Trophy for the yacht 15 years or older with the best performance of the week: Chinook
John Alden Reed Perpetual Trophy for the best performance by a Service Academy Yacht: Hellcat, USMMA
Governors Perpetual Trophy for the foreign yacht with the best performance of the week: Mean Machine
Shelter Island Team Trophy: 1. Mudheads (Showdown, Remedy, Cooch); 2. Storm Trysail Club Red (High Noon, Settler, Titan); 3. Storm Trysail Club Commodores (Lora Ann, Solution, Gold Digger)
It took a little longer than expected, but when it started it was worth waiting for. Reversals of fortune, blown spinnakers, lead changes and tight racing meant that the Fleet Races of Act 5 delivered on their promise of compelling action. When it was all over, Sweden's Victory Challenge stood alone at the top of the leaderboard, on the biggest holiday celebrated in Sweden, Midsummer's Eve.
Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 5 opened on Friday with lighter conditions on a hot, hazy and overcast day in Valencia. The soft breezes initially weren't entirely unwelcome as many sailors expressed trepidation at the prospect of 12 America's Cup Class boats hurtling at the starting line together.
Race Officer Harold Bennett began the start sequence on time, but as the gun fired, he issued a general recall as several boats were over the starting line early. At about the same time, the light seven-knot Southeasterly began to fade, and Bennett fired the postponement signal shortly afterwards. But just over one hour later, the breeze was up, and racing began at 15:40 in a six to eight knot Southeasterly.
Race One
Luna Rossa jumped out to an early and convincing lead with a great start and strong first beat to lead around the top mark by 20-seconds over Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi. This trio would remain in control for the rest of the race, and around the second windward mark, the Italians had what appeared to be a secure 42-second lead.
But Kiwi helmsman Dean Barker and tactician Terry Hutchinson worked the angles hard downwind, and Emirates TNZ was able to gybe into a controlling position over Luna Rossa, rolling past the Italian. As the boats switched sides of the course Alinghi came barrelling in towards the finishing line on port. The Kiwis decided to gybe in front of Alinghi and cross behind Luna Rossa, but on a fast angle to the finish. Luna Rossa gybed, to make its final dash for the line, but it was too late, and Barker and his crew raced across ahead. The Italians just squeezed in front of Alinghi.
Victory Challenge sailed a brilliant race in finishing fourth, ahead of BMW ORACLE Racing, while K-Challenge, which had started early, recovered to move up the fleet to seventh position, just behind United Internet Team Germany which also sailed a strong race.
Team Shosholoza finished a race with boats behind it for the first time this season. The South Africans, also premature starters, leapt ahead of three boats on the final run to finish ninth.
Race Two
The second race wasn't as clear cut. +39 skipper Iain Percy grabbed an early lead after initially looking like he might not make it across the pin end of the line. But halfway up the first windward leg, Sweden's Victory Challenge emerged as a strong leader gaining on pressure in the middle of the race course.
The Swedes led the three Italian teams around the top mark, and looked to be extending when their gennaker burst on a gybe. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia team took advantage, rolling over the black boat of Victory, and +39 did the same. Sweden recovered later in the race to grab back second place. But they could never reel in Mascalzone, who went on to win the race.
The wind was lighter in this second contest and with small oscillations in direction and pressure, it was difficult for the tacticians and strategists to plot a winning line up the course. Small place changes were frequent upwind and finding clean air difficult downwind. It was a day where good starts and positioning on the course were at a premium, and good decisions were rewarded, but fortune played a part as well.
The best examples of the vagaries of the day are Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team and Emirates Team New Zealand. Mascalzone finished last in the first race, but recovered all the way to win the second contest. Emirates TNZ, winner of the first race, struggled all through the second and was barely able to claw back to ninth.
It was a better day for Shosholoza who managed to finish with boats behind them in both races, and for the first time in the 2005 season is off the bottom of the table.
Racing is scheduled to continue on Saturday with two more fleet races beginning at 14:10.
Results
Points Leaderboard Race Results Overall Points
Victory Challenge (4, 2) 20
Luna Rossa Challenge (2, 6) 18
Emirates Team New Zealand (1, 9) 16
Alinghi (3, 7) 16
BMW ORACLE Racing (5, 5) 16
K-Challenge (7, 4) 15
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (12, 1) 13
+39 Challenge (10, 3) 13
Desafío Español 2007 (8, 8) 10
United Internet Team Germany (6, 11) 9
Team Shosholoza (9, 10) 7
China Team (11, 12) 3
If the Act 4 match racing regattas was a learning experience for Emirates Team New Zealand, the five fleet races of Act 5 will be a little on the nerve-wracking side.
“Especially the starts,” says Grant Dalton. “Twelve 85ft yachts jostling for position at the start will be a great for the spectators but a nervous time for the crews. A collision before the start or rounding a mark is always a distinct possibility.
“That’s very much top of mind,” Grant Dalton said. “We are running out of boats and I don’t think flying another one to Europe would be an option.
But, Dalton says, the team is looking forward to the fleet races. We really enjoy being part of such a great spectacle.
Does that mean Dean Barker and the crew on NZL 82 won’t be mixing it before the start? “We go out to win and we’ll work for the best possible start – but we won’t go looking for trouble,” Dalton said.
“The team is performing particularly well in Valencia. We have lifted the game in every respect. At Marseille and Valencia last year they had never sailed together as a crew. They were discovering each other they performed beyond expectations. Now they’re a unit and show the benefit of five months of solid testing in Auckland.
Dalton said the team had learned a lot while competing in the Valencia match races. We can now clearly see the gaps and we will work doubly hard to bridge them. Last year we were concentrating on the big picture, Now we have the luxury of being able to look at the detail.
He said none of the races had been easy. I don’t subscribe to the theory that there is a big gap between the top four syndicates and the rest of the fleet. We had very tough races against Spain, Sweden and K Challenge.
The teams further down the rankings have only been going a short time.so there’s no surprises there. Give them time. We were weak this time last year,
Dalton said Valencia is shaping as a good venue for the cup. The facilities are coming on stream, bases are being built and the breeze arrives on schedule every day.
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They say that going around "the Block" is never the same experience twice. Today's experience for over 1000 sailors on 190 boats at the Storm Trysail Club's Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex was nothing short of remarkable. A solid seabreeze built from 10-12 knots at the start to a high end of 20 at the finish, and sunny, clear skies allowed the competitors a fabulous view of the island's bluffs and beaches and, conversely for the islanders watching from ashore, an even more fabulous view of the colorful fleet.
"You couldn't have asked for a better brochure day," said the event's Chairman John Fisher. The 19- mile course was counterclockwise around the island and became a true test of navigation and wits as the boats crowded each other near the shore and around 12 government marks that kept them safe from natural obstructions. At the race's half-way point, the fleet was flying its spinnakers, speeding along past the Southeast Lighthouse, when Tom Hill's (San Juan, PR) Titan XII, the largest boat in the fleet at 75 feet, seemingly turned on a motor and gave new meaning to the word "horizon job." The yacht, which had started last with the other IRC Super Zero class entrants, powered through the fleet at 18 knots, threw in a showy jibe and made its way to windward to avoid barelling down on any smaller boats. By the time the rest of the fleet rounded the Block Island North Reef and made its way back upwind to the finish, Titan XII had long been finished. "I wish I had been off the boat," said Titan's captain Scott Bradford, "so I could have seen us!"
For its performance today, Titan won the Island Sailing Club of Cowes Perpetual Trophy. It has been awarded since Race Week's inception in 1965 and commemorates the link to Cowes Week in the UK, which Block Island Race Week was originally fashioned after. This year, the trophy, along with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner timepiece, was awarded to the best overall IRC-rated boat in the Around the Island Race.
Another great show was in the J/109 fleet, which is sailing its East Coast Championship with 16 boats in the class. Eventual class winner Phoebe's Phling (Charlie Milligan, Newport, R.I.) rounded in first at the first mark of the course, having stayed into shore and out of the current, but the increasing breeze helped out the laggards from behind, and Phling lost its prime position. By the 1BI mark (at the tip of the Block Island North Reef), there were five boats from our class ahead of us," said crewman Billy Burke of Newport, R.I. "But the others went directly into the beach and we legged out a bit with a tack and then went to the beach. We climbed over the whole lot of them." Burke commented that while going downwind in the brisk breezes there could have been carnage on their boat, but they averted disaster. "It was tough. We got caught a couple of times and layed the boat over." Classmate Warrior (Tom Burrows, Brewster, MA) ripped its spinnaker when Electra (Craig Crossley, Warwick, R.I.) relentlessly forced her beyond her limit to windward. Incommunicado (Ed Treacy/William Polk, Severna Park, Maryland), in PHRF class 3, lost its mast.
In the Beneteau 36.7 class, M&M's (Mark and Mara Ploch, New York, N.Y.) added another bullet to its scoreline today, as did Big Time (Michael Rajacich, Easton, Md.) in PHRF class 5 for a perfect record of four victories each.
"We had a fantastic day," said Tom Castiglione, main trimmer and tactician aboard Avalanche (Craig Albrecht, Sea Cliff, N.Y.), which after posting a second in today's race is leading the Farr 395 fleet. "The rounding at 1BI was a scene!," said Castiglione. "We were power reaching through a lot of boats. Our fleet stayed pretty tight around the island. Because of light air two years ago, we didn't sail the Around the Island Race and I really missed it. Windward/leeward courses are great, but this is a nice change. Winds, shore effect and current make it challenging. There's a lot to talk about under the tent tonight."
The fleet will return to around-the-buoys racing tomorrow and conclude the event on Friday.
Compliments of Rolex, daily video shows of the racing, produced by Annapolis-based T2Productions, are broadcast on-line each night by 9 p.m. on www.t2p.tv. The videos also are shown each day under the "Big Top" tent where all of Race Week's sponsors have a presence. Sponsors are B&G, Gill, Hall Spars, Heineken, J Boats, Jeep, Lewmar, Mt. Gay Rum, 1bigthink, Power Water, the Rhode Island State Yachting Committee, Sailing World, Samson Ropes, UKHalsey Sailmakers, Vineyard Vines, West Marine and Yellow Tail wine.
To follow the racing, go to www.blockislandraceweek.com.
Results Day 2
RED 1-IRC SUPER ZERO
1. Titan, Rp75 (1-2-1-1), 5 pts;
2. Numbers, Farr 60 (4-1-2-2), 9;
3. Hissar, Farr 60 (2-3-5-3), 13;
RED 2 - IRC ZERO
1. High Noon, Ilc 40 (2-1-2-1), 6 pts;
2. Bandit, Swan 45 (1-2-4-5), 12;
3. Better Than, Swan 45 (4-4-1-3), 12;
RED 3 FARR 40
1. Warpath, Farr 40 (1-3-2-2), 8 pts;
2. Groovederci, Farr40 (2-4-3-4), 13;
3. Mean Machine, Farr 40 (7-6-1-1), 15;
RED 4 - IRC ONE
1. Rum Funny, J133 (2-2-1-1), 6 pts;
2. Chris Dragon, J130 (4-1-5-4), 14;
3. Settler, Ctm42 (3-3-6-3), 15;
RED 5 - IRC TWO
1. Lora Ann, Exp 37 (2-1-5-1), 9 pts;
2. Troubador, Express 37 (1-5-3-2), 11;
3. Schock Therapy, Schock 35 (3-3-4-4), 14.5;
WHITE 1 - FARR 395
1. Farr 395 (3-3-1-2), 9 pts;
2. Tsunami, Farr 395 (2-1-6-1), 10;
3. Coyote, Farr 395 (1-5-4-3), 13;
WHITE 2 - J/44
1. Gold Digger, J44 (2-2-2-3), 9 pts;
2. Challenge Iv, J44 (1-1-3-6), 11;
3. Maxine, J44 (4-6-1-8), 19;
WHITE 3 - BEN 40.7
1. Dame Blanche, Ben 40.7 (1-3-4-1), 9 pts;
2. Down Time, Ben 40.7 (3-1-3-2), 9;
3. Shadowfax, Ben 40.7 (4-7-1-4), 16;
WHITE 4 - J120
1. Ricochet, J120 (1-3-1-7), 12 pts;
2. Sarah Beth, J120 (3-2-4-3), 12;
3. Euro Trash Girl, J120 (2-4-3-5), 14;
WHITE 6 - J105
1. Pretty Sketchy, J105 (2-4-1-3), 10 pts;
2. Indefatigable, J105 (1-5-7-2), 15;
3. Eclipse, J105 (10-1-3-4), 18;
WHITE 5 - J109
1. Gut Feeling, J109 (1-2-2-7), 12 pts;
2. Electra, J109 (2-1-4-6), 13;
3. Storm, J109 (3-6-7-2), 18;
BLUE 1 - BEN 36.7
1. M&m's, Ben36.7 (1-1-1-1), 4 pts;
2. Quokka, Ben36.7 (3-3-2-2), 10;
3. Jubilee, Ben 36.7 (2-2-3-3), 10;
BLUE 2 - PHRF 87-108
1. Remedy, Evelyn 32 (2-1-1-2), 6 pts;
2. Xlr8, Carrera280 (1-2-10-1), 14;
3. Freightrain, Frers 36 (5-3-3-6), 17;
BLUE 3 -PHRF 111-123
1. Cooch, J29 (2-1-1-3), 7 pts;
2. Exhilaration, X332 (1-3-3-1), 8.5;
3. Showdown, J29 (4-2-2-2), 10;
BLUE 4 -PHRF 129-135
1. Chinook, J30 (1-1-1-7), 10 pts;
2. Lunatic Fringe, Ls 10 (7-2-3-1), 13;
3. Pirate, Abbott 33 (3-3-5-3), 14;
BLUE 5 -PHRF 156-171
1. Big Time, Cal 33 (1-1-1-1), 4 pts;
2. Hocus Pocus, J24 (2-4-3-3), 12;
3. Mad Cow, J24 (4-3-5-2), 14;
GRN 1 - PHRF NON-SPI
1. Xenophon, Swan 44 (3-1), 4 pts;
2. Rogue, Taylor 38 (2-2), 4;
3. Rascal, J34c (1-4), 5;