Les Voiles de St. Tropez

Today was the first race day here in St. Tropez. It is an amazing collection of boats here from classics like the J-boat Velsheda to super modern Wally’s like Essence with her 170 foot mast.

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TP 52-Med Cup Update, Portimao

We could not have had a much worse day today. An 8th and a last dropped us to 6th overall.

The wind was light all day. We did not get off the line well in either race. In the first one, we made a nice come back to round the last windward mark 6th but we lost two boats on the final run.
In the second race, with a line of clouds coming from the right, and the forecast calling for the wind to go right, we invested hard in the right and rounded the first windward mark third from last. We went slow down that first run and to the left. The wind finally went right 30 degrees but we were on the wrong side of it were last at the gate. The committee did not move the windward mark for the last windward leg so no chance to pass as it was all starboard tack up the second beat.

The wind all but died on the last run and for a moment it looked like we might pass a few boats, but no.

So a frustrating end to what was our best regatta of the season after two days.

But I told the team that we have to take a lot satisfaction in the fact that we have raised our level of competitiveness substantially since the beggining of the year. We are now often fighting for the top spot in the fleet. This took a lot of hard work and determination. There is nothing easy about the Med Cup fleet.

So we will take that improved performance to the World Championship in Lanzarote in Mid October.

Quantum had the best day with a 1, 4 to win the regatta over Matador who had a 11, 2 today. Bribon made a big come back in the light air today getting a 2, 5.

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TP 52-Med Cup Update, Portimao

One race today as the wind died in the second race and it was abandoned on the last windward leg.

In the first race, with the wind 11 knots from 125, we had a decent start about halfway down the line with Bribon to leeward. Platoon started at the windward end and was amongst the first to tack to port and go right. Unfortunately for us, the wind went to 150 and therefore the right was very good and we were 11th at the first mark. Platoon, Matador and Quantum were 1, 2, 3.

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TP 52-Med Cup Update, Portimao

No wind, no race.

We pick up again tomorrow with windward-leward racing. The forecast is for 11-16 knots from the east.

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TP 52-Med Cup Update, Portimao

A very good day for Desafio today and we took over the lead.

It was as much that Quantum and Audi Q8 had bad days as it was that we had a good one. A 7, 3 isn’t bad but Platoon and Matador won the day with a 1, 2 each. Matador has moved into second place, just one point behind El Desafio.

Today’s wind was light and from the south. Very smooth seas and rather short leg length’s at 1.6 mile meant once again that all the boats arrived at the first mark together.

In the first race we had an ok start and hung onto starboard longer than we wanted because we were pinned by Bigamist to windward who wanted at all cost to go left. Lucky for us, they drove us over there. Matador led the pack from the left followed closely by Platoon. We actually passed Bribon and Quantum on the second windward leg but mismanaged the approach to the mark and lost both of them.

In the second race, we had a very good start down at the leeward end because we wanted to go left. Left was pretty good and we were second to Platoon, who had won the pin, as we came out of the left. Amazingly, Matador got a nice shift on the right and got between us at the top mark.

Again, just behind us there was a large pile up and Quantum and Caxia Galicia were casualties in that melee.

So the placing after the second day are:

1. El Desafio – 25
2. Matador – 26
3. Quantum – 29
4. Platoon – 32
5. Synergy – 33

Tomorrow is the “coastal race”. There are two scoring points in the race, the finish obviously and also the mid point. So getting a good start and going the right way on the first windward leg in this race is very important.

Forecast for tomorrow is 7 knots going to 4 knots. Not real encouraging.

For complete results go to www.audimedccup.org

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TP 52-Med Cup Update, Portimao

Three races were held today in a very nice breeze of 14-18 knots from 315. This breeze comes offshore here on the South coast of

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TP 52-Med Cup Update, Portimao

The TP 52 fleet has assembled in Portimao, Portuigal for the final regatta of the 2008 Audi

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Rolex Maxi Worlds – Day 5

No wind. No race.

Unfortunate situation. So the results don’t change. Moneypenny third, Numbers first and Rosebud second in the Mini Maxi Class.

Next stop for this fleet is St. Tropez at the end of September.

For me, I will be back in the TP 52 with El Desafio on September 15 for the last regatta of the Med Cup Circuit in Portimao, Portugal.

Good Sailing.

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Rolex Maxi Worlds – Day 4

A short note tonight as a lot is going on.

A good day for Moneypenny with a second place. Numbers is pretty much untouchable and Rosebud was over the start line early and had to return.

Tomorrow will be the fight for second between Rosebud and us, in the 18 boat Mini Maxi class. One race is scheduled at 11:30.

Forecast is for 12 knots from the Southeast.

For complete results in all classes go to www.yccsmaxi.com

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Rolex Maxi Worlds – Day 3

The wind was in today and the Mini Maxi fleet which contains Moneypenny, Numbers and Rosebud, raced two windward leeward courses. There are 18 boats in the Mini Maxi class in total and with the wind reaching 22 knots, we were flying downwind. The other fleets did another coastal race.

The sad news of the day was that a crew member was seriously injured on Alegra, a Mills 68 from Great Britain. It seems that he got a halyard around his leg just as the jammer that was holding the halyard broke. He is in surgery at the moment se we are all saying a prayer for him.

In the first race of the day, Rosebud sailed an excellent first downwind leg, planning by Numbers and taking the lead which the never relinquished.

In the second race, Numbers led wire to wire. We managed a third in each race.

The good news is that we had no damage and no injuries. The boats were seriously loaded up and that is always scary.

Tomorrow the racing will start at 1400 so most likely one race and probably a Coastal for all fleets.

For complete results in all classes go to www.yccsmaxi.com

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