2010 RC 44 Valencia Cup

[MLovett]

RC 44 Championship Tour 2010

Tension rising ahead of the RC 44 Valencia Cup

The outcome of RC 44 Championship Tour 2010 is more uncertain than ever, with five teams separated by six points after three events. Will the RC 44 Valencia Cup reshuffle the cards? The answer in a month.


June 29, 2010 – The second half of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2010 will start in Valencia, Spain, on July 27. No less than eleven teams, including Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino and all the teams involved since the beginning of the season, will participate in the event.

The RC 44 Valencia Cup will be the fourth event of the Championship Tour 2010. It will most probably coincide with the return of summer sailing conditions following an interesting first three events this season. Indeed, the Tour started in February in Dubai in superb yet challenging conditions, with a lot of sand and dust in the air carried by a nearby storm; it carried on under the snow-capped mountains that surround the stunning Austrian Lake Traunsee, before last month’s strong breeze in Copenhagen.

The summer weather in Valencia should bring back the sun and the warmth, alongside the nice and stable sea breeze that traditionally blows in the Mediterranean during the summer. The regatta will begin on Tuesday July 27 with a match race event held over two days. The team owners will then take the helm on Thursday 29th for a fleet race practice day followed by three days of fleet regattas.

Valencia, the iconic sailing venue, home of the America’s Cup 2007 and 2010, is a great site for sailing in general and the Championship Tour in particular. The races will take place in front of Malvarrosa beach (weather permitting) whilst one of them, on Saturday, will finish inside the Dársena, next to the famous Veles e Vents building.

General Director of Consorcio Valencia 2007, Jorge Gisbert explains that “It is the first time ever that the Valencian waters will welcome the RC44 teams. We look forward to welcoming them for what we hope will become the first of many editions here, and to organise an event as successful as other events organised at the Marina Real Juan Carlos I, such as the America’s Cup or Formula 1. The Consorcio Valencia 2007 team is working hard to ensure all the elements of the event are set in place. We are grateful for the support of the Real Club Náutico de Valencia and the Spanish and the Valencian Sailing Federations."

The RC 44 Championship Tour is one of the world’s top sailing events. With six regattas spread in the Middle-East, Europe and the United States, it involves up to twelve international teams that include last year’s winner Team No Way Back (Pieter Heerema / Ray Davies), Artemis (Torbjorn Tornqvist / Terry Hutchinson), CEEREF (Igor Lah / Rod Davis), BMW ORACLE Racing (Larry Ellison / Russell Coutts), Team Aqua (Chris Bake / Cameron Appleton), Team Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (José Juan and Daniel Calero / José Maria Ponce), Katusha (Guennadi Timtchenko / Paul Cayard), Team Sea Dubai (Harm Müller Spreer / Markus Wieser), RC 44 Challenge (James Spithill), Team Austria (René Mangold / Christian Binder) and Mascalzone Latino (Vincenzo Onorato).


RC 44 Championship Tour 2010, overall ranking after three events:

[MLovett]

RC 44 CLASS ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE
RC 44 Season Championship resumes tomorrow off Valencia

11 boats set to contest match and fleet racing events

VALENCIA, Spain (26 July 2010) – Featuring 11 crews ready to battle in match and fleet race disciplines, the RC 44 2010 Season Championship resumes here tomorrow on the Mediterranean Sea.

Pieter Heerema of The Netherlands leads his No Way Back crew into action atop the season standings. Last year’s season champs have amassed the low score of 8 points on finishes of 3-3-2, but Heerema sees trouble on the horizon.

“We’ve been consistent, but this isn’t the moment to talk about the standings,” said Heerema, a veteran sailor of dinghies and keelboats. “After this regatta each team gets to discard its worst finish, so the standings will change.”

Three points in arrears is the Russell Coutts-led BMW ORACLE Racing crew aboard Deal Breaker. Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis holds third place with 12 points, followed by Chris Bake’s Team Aqua with 14 points and Harm Mueller-Speer’s Team Sea Dubai in fifth place with 16 points.

“They’ve been very consistent,” said Team Aqua professional helmsman Cameron Appleton of New Zealand. “Pieter has put in a lot of time and effort and it’s paid off. They’re a strong unit.”

Other competitors in the event include Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref of Slovenia, BMW ORACLE Racing’s Boat 17 led by skipper James Spithill, Guennadi Timtchenko’s Katusha of Russia, Daniel Calero’s Islas Canarias Puerto Calero and René Mangold’s AEZ RC44 Sailing Team of Austria.

The class is also pleased to welcome back Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino Audi Team. One of the original boats in the class, Mascalzone Latino will be racing its first event of the season.

“It’s an exciting boat and concept,” said Heerema. “For the high-tech level, it’s not an expensive boat.”

Typical of RC44 events, the Valencia Cup is structured in two parts. The first part on Tuesday and Wednesday features match racing where the pro sailors are on the helm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are scheduled fleet race days where the amateur owner-drivers are on the helm.

The conditions are promising for a lively regatta. Valencia’s hot summer, with temperatures averaging around 90 degrees, help a strong east/southeasterly sea breeze up to 15 knots develop by mid-afternoon, challenging both pro and amateur sailors alike.

“The class has a high but social level,” said Cameron Appleton, the match-race helmsman for Team Aqua. “The level of sailing is very high, but the umpires help leave it all on the water. There are no protests when we get ashore, and everyone can share a drink and talk about the day.”

“This class is the best thing going,” said Jeff Brock, a crew member aboard Team Aqua who has raced professionally for nearly 20 years. “Every time I step on these boats I think this is the way it’s supposed to be. They’re responsive to subtle changes, and as a crew you can throw them around the race track.”


RC 44 CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR 2010
(After three of six regattas)

1. No Way Back/Pieter Heerema (NED) 3-3-2 – 8 points
2. BMW ORACLE Racing/Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts (USA) 9-1-1 – 11
3. Artemis/Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE) 2-7-3 – 12
4. Team Aqua/Chris Bake (UAE) 1-9-4 – 14
5. Team Sea Dubai/Harm Mueller-Speer (UAE) 5-4-7 – 16
6. Ceeref/Igor Lah (SLO) 4-5-8 – 17
7. 17/James Spithill (USA) 11-2-5 – 18
8. Katusha/Guennadi Timtchenko (RUS) 6-8-6 – 20
9. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero/Daniel Calero (ESP) 8-6-9 – 23
10. AEZ RC44 Sailing Team/René Mangold (AUT) 7-10-10 – 27

[MLovett]

RC 44s take flight as Artemis takes control

The Swedish team is the sole survivor after first day of match racing

VALENCIA, Spain (27 July 2010) – Small jibs and loose boom vangs were the order of the day as the RC 44 Valencia Cup got underway here in a pumping sea breeze that topped out at 20 knots.

Despite the strong wind off Malvarrosa Beach, the professional crews threw the light-displacement boats around with seeming ease.

In a day that saw seven flights and 28 match races completed, three crews made it through the first five flights undefeated. But only Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis escaped unscathed.

“We started well enough today and the boat was going well through the water,” said Artemis skipper Terry Hutchinson, who finished the day at 6-0. “We had our best day boathandling, and we needed it today.”

Three other teams finished the day with 4-1 records including Russell Coutts and the BMW ORACLE Racing team, Cameron Appleton’s Team Aqua and James Spithill’s 17. Rounding out the top five is Igor Lah’s Ceeref at 3-1 with Rod Davis as skipper.

“We had a good day considering we weren’t able to practice yesterday,” said Davis, who suffered a slight injury when the mainsheet grazed his head. “We went in loose and are quite happy. The boys have been on the boat a long time and that was helpful today.”

The day started mild with an east/southeasterly wind around 12 knots. But with the temperature inland topping out at 90 degrees, it quickly turned wild when the wind shifted to the southeast and built to 16 to 18 knots, with gusts up to 20 knots.

The race committee ordered the small jibs for the fourth flight of races, and VIP spectators were no longer allowed aboard to avoid the risk of injury during transfer from chase boat to race boat.

Corresponding with the increase in wind strength was an increase of incidents. Upwards of eight penalties were issued, three spinnakers ripped, one jib battered and one steering system damaged.

A couple of crews were forced to retire from races due to the damage, but for those who finished you would think the day was a walk in the park.

“This was one of the windiest days we’ve had match racing, but they’re spectacular boats. They come alive downwind,” Hutchinson said.

“My guys did a great job getting me out of trouble today,” said Appleton. “I was the one causing the trouble.”

The match racing portion of the RC 44 Valencia Cup continues tomorrow with another seven flights planned. Thursday is a scheduled practice day for the fleet racing portion of the regatta, which runs Friday through Sunday.


RC 44 VALENCIA CUP
(Match racing, after seven of 14 flights)
1. Artemis / Terry Hutchinson (SWE) 6-0
2. BMW ORACLE Racing / Russell Coutts (USA) 4-1
2. Team Aqua / Cameron Appleton (UAE) 4-1
2. 17 / James Spithill (USA) 4-1
5. Ceeref / Rod Davis (SLO) 3-1
6. No Way Back / Pieter Heerema and Ray Davies (NED) 3-3
7. Team Sea Dubai / Markus Weiser (UAE) 2-4
8. Katusha / Paul Cayard (RUS) 1-3
9. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team / Tommaso Chieffi (ITA) 1-4
10. AEZ RC44 Sailing Team / Christian Binder (AUT) 0-5
10. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero / José Maria Ponce (ESP) 0-5


Photo: Copyright Ignacio Baixauli / RC44 Class - Russell Coutts and his team onboard BMW ORACLE Racing enjoyed today’ rough sailing conditions. They won all their matches except the one against Artemis.

[Stuart Streuli]

RC 44 Valencia Cup fleet poised for fleet racing

Up to four races a day are planned Friday through Sunday

VALENCIA, Spain (29 July 2010) – After bashing about for two days in a match racing regatta held in winds up to 20 knots, today is an off day for the RC 44 Valencia Cup.

In sailor’s parlance an off day is a practice day, which means the fleet took to the water this afternoon for a bit of practice ahead of the fleet racing portion of the regatta. Up to four races a day are planned Friday through Sunday.

The fleet races do not allow for the professional helmsmen who drove during the match racing. All helmsmen must be classified as an amateur. In most cases, that means the boat owner is back on the “handle bars.”

“We’re looking forward to having Chris (Bake) come in. I know he’s very excited to get here,” said Team Aqua professional helmsman Cameron Appleton.

Team Aqua won the match racing half of the event with a 9-1 record, one win ahead of second and third-placed Artemis and BMW ORACLE Racing, respectively.

“He was watching our racing on line yesterday during an important meeting and had to keep asking the others in the room to repeat themselves,” Appleton said.

Another looking ahead to the fleet racing is Ceeref owner Igor Lah. He was aboard his boat for the match racing as tactician, but now gets the chance to put his bow where it doesn’t belong.

“I’m really looking forward to the fleet racing. The conditions here are great,” said Lah of Slovenia. “It’s a nice breeze and interesting waves, and the level of competition keeps increasing from event to event.”

During today’s practice race the event hosted a dozen sailors of the youth program at Real Club Nautico de Valencia. AEZ RC 44 Sailing Team won the first practice race whilst Islas Canarias Puerto Calero was first across the line of the second one following a captivating last run inside Valencia’s Dársena.

[Stuart Streuli]

Myralf, 17 come out firing bullets at RC 44 Valencia Cup

Amateur drivers take the helm as fleet racing begins

VALENCIA, Spain (30 July 2010) – Oh, to be 17 again.

After wishing for more boatspeed following the match racing portion of the RC 44 Valencia Cup, Anders Myralf of Denmark guided James Spithill and the 17 crew to three first place finishes today to wrest control of the fleet racing portion of the regatta.

The 17 crew won the first, third and fourth races, and placed fourth in Race 2. Their low score, however, is 8 points due to a 1 point penalty imposed by the International Jury.

Second place is held by Chris Bake and Team Aqua, winners of the match racing portion of the week-long event, with 14 points on finishes of 2-3-5-4.

Third place is held by Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis at 20 points (5-7-2-6).

“It’s incredible to come down here from Copenhagen and jump into a boat that is so organized and well sailed,” said Myralf, an amateur sailor who races aboard the Farr 40 Nanooq with the Prince of Denmark. “I’ve never seen such a good crew. I’ve got the easiest job on the boat.”

The southeasterly sea breeze that marked the match racing didn’t materialize today until the fourth race, but it lacked its typical punch. Instead, the fleet sailed in mostly an easterly wind between 8 and 10 knots. Only in Race 4 did it shift to the southeast and increase to 12 knots.

The new conditions made consistency hard to achieve. Instead of trusting the right side of the racecourse, some found the left side of the course favorable. Aside from the top two, the rest of the fleet had at least one, if not two finishes out of the top five.

“We were able to stay in the top five, and in this fleet that’s saying something,” said Bake of Team Aqua. “The field was fairly mixed up.”

Another marked difference from the match racing portion are the amateur helmsmen, as required by class rules. In most cases that is the owner driving the light-displacement yacht.

Completing the top five are a pair of Russians: Guennadi Timtchenko and Katusha, placed fourth with 20 points on finishes of 9-1-8-3, followed by Maxim Logutenko aboard BMW ORACLE Racing with Russell Coutts at 22 points (finishes of 10-6-4-2).

For Timtchenko, this is just his third regatta. Ever. He’d never raced before joining the RC 44 Class, but got into it due to Tornqvist, a friend and business associate.

“I raced with Torbjorn aboard one of his boats,” said the 57-year-old Timtchenko. “The RC 44 is the right class for me. It’s an interesting boat, fast and maneuverable. I make a lot of mistakes, but my crew gets me out of trouble.”

Marring an otherwise great day, 17 was penalized 1 point by the jury after a protest from Islas Canarias Puerto Calero and owner Daniel Calero.

At the start of Race 4, Puerto Calero was the windward yacht with 17 overlapped to leeward. Puerto Calero alleged that Spithill, the professional helmsman, took the helm. Class rules state that the professional may take the helm only on safety grounds.

Puerto Calero maintains that Spithill took the helm to help push them over the line early. Puerto Calero was on the course side at the start.

According to International Jury chairman Bill Edgerton, Spithill said in the protest hearing that he had a hand on the wheel, but only to help turn the yacht down to avoid potentially hitting Puerto Calero.

“We didn’t want to have them disqualified, but we wanted to raise the issue that it is against the rules,” said Daniel Calero.

Racing resumes tomorrow with four races scheduled beginning at 1:00 pm.


RC 44 VALENCIA CUP

(Fleet racing provisional results)
1. 17 / Anders Myralf (USA) 1-4-1-1, 8 points*
2. Team Aqua / Chris Bake (UAE) 2-3-5-4, 14 points
3. Artemis / Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE) 5-7-2-6, 20 points
4. Katusha / Guennadi Timtchenko (RUS) 9-1-8-3, 21 points
5. BMW ORACLE Racing / Maxim Logutenko (USA) 10-6-4-2, 22 points
6. No Way Back / Pieter Heerema (NED) 8-2-7-5, 22 points
7. Ceeref / Igor Lah (SLO) 6-11-3-7, 27 points
8. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero / Daniel Calero (ESP) 3-9-9-10, 31 points
9. AEZ RC44 Sailing Team / Rene Mangold (AUT) 4-10-10-8, 32 points
10. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team / Vincenzo Onorato (ITA) 11-5-6-11, 33 points
11. Team Sea Dubai / Harm Mueller-Speer (UAE) 7-8-11-9, 35 points
(* includes 1 point penalty by International Jury)