Louis Vuitton Trophy-La Maddalena

La Maddalena, Sardinia

Artemis was first up today against America’s Cup winner BMW Oracle. The conditions were 15 knots from the west and a perfectly sunny day. Terry Hutchinson got a great start shutting out James Spithill at the committee boat. I was reluctant to give the American’s much rope to play with in the very shifty conditions. Therefore we never got very far ahead…maximum lead was 2 boat lengths. The race was toe to toe all the way around until the last run when BMW Oracle gybed away while trailing and we let them go as we had the preferred side. We won the race by 15 seconds. It was great to get our third win and nice to win a tight one.

In other action, the Russian team Synergy beat Prada, then Prada rebounded to beat Team New Zealand in a close battle. The French team Aleph caused a major incident in their race with Azzurra. The French were disqualified as there is significant damage to both boats. Finally, the British Team Origin beat All4One by just 5 seconds in a very tight race.

Artemis heads the scoreboard with 3 wins from 3 starts.

For complete results and news go to www.louisvuittontrophy.com

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Louis Vuitton Trophy-La Maddalena

Another win for Artemis today over the previously unbeaten Aleph Team of France.

After a long wait for wind this morning, racing finally got underway at 1430. In the first flight of the day, the Brits on TeamOrigin beat BMW Oracle by controlling the start and getting a penalty on the Americans. In the other match, the Russian team, Synergy won a closely fought match against the French/German team of All4One. The lead changed a couple of times in that one.

The conditions were 6-8 knots and very flat seas. We are racing inside the archipelago of La Maddalena, so the mountains cause plenty of volatile wind shifts which makes it challenging for the teams.

We made a change of call about 2.5 minutes before our start changing from “wide right” to “tight leeward” as our desired position off the line. It looked like the French were happy with the right so we each got what we wanted in the left. The first shift went left and we controlled the French as they tacked to port. From there we never let them have a sniff of the left as it got better and better of there. We won fairly easily in the end.

In the other match in our flight, Azzurra stole the win off Prada on the first run in another Italian battle.

Then in flight three, Emirates Team New Zealand beat TeamOrigin too in its first outing of the series and All4One beat Mascalzone Latino Audi Team in the other match. There was a red flag penalty on Mascalzone Latino at the first windward mark and that pretty much ended the race.

With two wins from two starts, we are starting out nicely on Artemis. But again, this is a tricky venue and anything can happen in any match. Tomorrow, we are up against BMW Oracle in the first flight of the day.

For complete results go to www.louisvuittontrophy.com

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Louis Vuitton Trophy-La Maddalena

Another win for Artemis today over the previously unbeaten Aleph Team of France.

After a long wait for wind this morning, racing finally got underway at 1430. In the first flight of the day, the Brits on TeamOrigin beat BMW Oracle by controlling the start and getting a penalty on the Americans. In the other match, the Russian team, Synergy won a closely fought match against the French/German team of All4One. The lead changed a couple of times in that one.

The conditions were 6-8 knots and very flat seas. We are racing inside the archipelago of La Maddalena, so the mountains cause plenty of volatile wind shifts which makes it challenging for the teams.

We made a change of call about 2.5 minutes before our start changing from “wide right” to “tight leeward” as our desired position off the line. It looked like the French were happy with the right so we each got what we wanted in the left. The first shift went left and we controlled the French as they tacked to port. From there we never let them have a sniff of the left as it got better and better of there. We won fairly easily in the end.

In the other match in our flight, Azzurra stole the win off Prada on the first run in another Italian battle.

Then in flight three, Emirates Team New Zealand beat TeamOrigin too in its first outing of the series and All4One beat Mascalzone Latino Audi Team in the other match. There was a red flag penalty on Mascalzone Latino at the first windward mark and that pretty much ended the race.

With two wins from two starts, we are starting out nicely on Artemis. But again, this is a tricky venue and anything can happen in any match. Tomorrow, we are up against BMW Oracle in the first flight of the day.

For complete results go to www.louisvuittontrophy.com

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Louis Vuitton Trophy-La Maddalena

La Maddalena, Sardinia – Today was Artemis’ first race in the Louis Vuitton Trophy – La Maddalena. We were up against the Brits in TeamOrigin. No race is easy out here. After a long delay, our warning signal was finally given at 1445 with the wind at just 6 knots from the Northeast. We won the race, which is a nice way to start the two week competition.

TeamOrigin had an unfortunate incident in the pre-start, getting a lobster pot caught on their keel. Our helmsman Terry Hutchinson did a good job staying clear of TeamOrigin and the trailing line then putting us right on the line at the favored right hand side. TeamOrigin was about 2 lengths behind us off the line. From there, we sailed a solid race with good crew work keeping the tactics as simple as possible in the rather light conditions.

Onboard today we had a special guest, Leonardo Ferragamo, a passionate sailor himself, and a friend of mine for many years. Leonardo is also the owner of the prestigious company Nautor’s Swan, builders of some of the most beautiful yachts in the world.

Due to the lights winds, we are a bit behind with the schedule at the end of day two with 4 of 23 flights completed. Out in front is Betrand Pace’s team ALEPH with two wins, having beaten both TeamOrigin and America’s Cup holders BMW Oracle Racing. Luna Rossa also had their first race today and beat Mascalzone Latino Audi Team.

There are still many races to go in the first part of Round Robin 1.

Paul

For live race action go to www.artemisracing.com and for complete results go to www.louisvuittontrophy.com

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Louis Vuitton Trophy-La Maddalena

La Maddalena, Sardinia

The transformed US Naval Base at La Maddalena is now a beautiful base for the Louis Vuitton Trophy. Four America’s Cup Class yachts, two from Mascalzone Latino Audi Team and two from BMW Oracle Racing will be used by the ten teams.

Today was the first day of racing. Beautiful blue skies graced the island, but unfortunately so did light winds. Only one flight was completed today.

Mascalzone Latino Audi defeated Italian rival Azzurra while the French team Aleph beat TeamOrigin. The rest of the teams sat around anxiously awaiting their chance to get on the water but the wind did not cooperate.

The field is extreemely competitive at this event with; Emirates Team New Zealand, All4One, Azzuurra, Artemis, Aleph, TeamOrigin, Mascalzone Latino Audi, BMW Oracle Racing, Luna Rossa and Synergy.

For live race action go to www.artemisracing.com and for complete results go to www.louisvuittontrophy.com

Paul

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TP52 Portugal Trophy

Cascais, Portugal

Race Day 4 – Not a fun day for Artemis but we managed to hold onto third place.

We had a decent race in the first one with a 6th but lost both Quantum and All4One on the final run to the finish. All4One was just 0.5 ahead of us in second place going into today. The Portugese on Bigimist won the first race with Team New Zealand in 2nd.

At the start of the second race we were too close to windward of TeamOrigin, in big waves and 20 knots of wind. We got slow and the bow blew off and our sprit hit TeamOrigin and broke. So we had to make a penalty turn and we had no sprit for the downwind legs.

We were well into last when the dust settled after the start and I thought about just retiring to save the wear and tear on the sails. But that would have cost us one point as the difference between a last and a DNF (Did Not Finish). Then Bribon had a problem with their gennaker too and went down the last run without a kite. We were able to set ours, tacked to the bow, and we managed to pass them and gain another point.

Quantum sailed well to win easily and Team New Zealand got another second showing a lot of consistency.

Team New Zealand won easily and All4One sailed well to get second. Behind Artemis in third, things were tight with TeamOrigin and Quantum tied for fourth just 1.5 points behind us.

Cascais proved to be a fantastic place to race and a beautiful city to boot. I am sure we will be back to race here next year.

For complete results go to www.medcup.org

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TP52 Portugal Trophy

Cascais, Portugal

Race Day 4 – Today we had the coastal race. The winds were 15-25 knots from the NW. Team New Zealand led from start to finish. Matador put on their best race to finish second and Jochen Schuemann and his All4One team finished third and lie in 2nd overall due to TeamOrigin finishing 9th.

We clawed our way up to fourth and now lie in 3rd overall.

Tomorrow is the last two races. Still strong winds are forecast.

To watch the racing live go to www.artemisracing.com and for complete results go to www.medcup.org

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TP52 Portugal Trophy

Cascais, Portugal

Race Day 3 – Two great races again today in 15-25 knots of wind from the Northwest. We had a bit of rain, but the wind really made the racing exciting with the boats planing at over 20 knots downwind.

Onboard ARTEMIS we had a good day and moved up in the standings from 7th to 4th. We did not have good starts in either race but made great comebacks by playing the very shifty wind to finish 7th and 2nd.

TeamOrigin won the first race but stumbled a bit in the second by fouling ALL4ONE at the first mark and the finished 7th. Emirates Team New Zealand had a great day with a 2, 1 and now lead the series with 26 points to TeamOrigin with 29. The Russian team, Synergy is third with 34 points just two ahead of ARTEMIS with 36. ALL4ONE is 5th with 37.

Tomorrow will be the coastal race down to Lisbon and back…about 25 miles. Good breeze is forecast so it should be a fairly quick race. The current will be tricky near Lisbon as there is a big river outlet to the ocean.

To watch the racing live go to www.artemisracing.com and for complete results go to www.medcup.org

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TP52 Portugal Trophy

Cascais, Portugal

Race Day 2 – Two races were held today and the competition was once again extremely tight. The conditions were a bit breezier than yesterday with a maximum windspeed in the second race of 25 knots. The wind was also very shifty, with the range from 305 to 005. Being in the middle of the course was not good.

Onboard ARTEMIS we had a good day with an 8 and 3. Our regular helmsman Torbjorn Tornqvist joined us today after missing yesterday due to work commitments. In the first race, we got off to the right side thinking that the typical conditions would prevail following a small frontal passage. But once again, the left was good and we rounded the first mark about 8th. We passed one boat up the second windward leg but unfortunately lost them again on the final run when the gennaker sheet got under the bow in a gybe. Emirates Team New Zealand picked up where they left off yesterday with a win and Quantum being helmed by Adrian Stead finished second. Quantum helmsman Terry Hutchinson suffered a concussion prior to the start of the first race today and won’t be sailing tomorrow either. He is ok, but needs to take it easy.

In the second race, we got off to a bad start but headed right once again. And this time, the right was a charm. We got to the first mark in second place right behind All4One with a huge lead on TeamOrigin in third place. Things stayed pretty much even down the first run. The boats were planing in the now 20 knots of wind, which was a lot of fun. Around the gate, one of our mainsheet blocks broke and we were not 100% up the second windward leg. This allowed TeamOrigin to catch up to us a bit. Down the final run, we passed All4One and were looking good for the win on the final gybe into the finish. However, the wind shifted 20 degrees in our favor but it was too much and we had to put the jib up to get to the finish, which let TeamOrigin pass us. We finished third. Still a good race!

So TeamOrigin is leading now with 21 points just 6 points ahead of us on 27. We are in a three-way tie for 5-7th. Still a lot of racing to go and tomorrow’s forecast is for good breeze again.

To watch the racing live go to www.artemisracing.com and for complete results go to www.medcup.org

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TP52 Portugal Trophy

Cascais, Portugal

Race Day 1 – Three races were held today and the competition was extremely tight. In fact, just three points separate the top 6 boats at the end of the first day. Emirates Team New Zealand, last season’s winner, scored both a first place and a last place in today’s racing.

Onboard Artemis we had a good day. We had three good starts and were always in a good lane coming off the line. We scored a nice third place to start things off, then in the second race tore our gennaker at the first mark and were well clear in last place by the time we got the replacement sail up. Still, we managed to claw our way back to 6th. Then in the last race, we got a bit too far to the left of the fleet on the first windward leg and were deep in the pack. We did manage to pass a few boats on the final run to finish 7th.

The racing was always tight with lots of action around the marks. No one dominated the day, neither on speed or tactics. Likewise, the closeness in the scores.

Another feature today was that the left side was pretty good at times, so that kept the race course more open than usual. The winds were 12-16 knots from the Northwest with oscillations of 20 degrees. Very fun conditions in these boats.

Tomorrow, the forecast is for a bit more wind and the race committee will probably shoot for three races again.

I took some photos of the fleet at the dock this morning. The race village here is the best on the circuit.

To watch the racing live go to www.artemisracing.com and for complete results go to www.medcup.org

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