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ST. Moritz Match Race 2008: with a new boat, the Blu26, and a new Qualifier Event, the Open Espana

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:57:00 +0000

ST. MORITZ – The 6th St. Moritz Match Race, which takes place from 2-7 September this year, will be competed for using the new Blu26 boats, a decision recently reached by the event’s organising committee. In addition, it has also been announced that the Open Espana Regatta in Calpe will count as a Qualifier Event for the Match Race in St. Moritz.

The 4-man blu26 boat has been especially developed by Bluboats for match- and fleet-racing, and has been designed with Switzerland’s particular wind and weather conditions in mind. The result is a highly developed and refined racing yacht, which, at 8m long and with a width of 2.2m, is ideally suited for racing on Lake St Moritz. In fact, the Blu26 was trialled here during last year’s Match Race event.

Also in the news is the fact that the Spanish Grade 1 Regatta, Open Espana in Calpe, is now an official Qualifier Event of the World Match Racing Tour for the St. Moritz Match Race 2008. This Regatta was held from 8-12 April, and the winner Paolo Cian, as well as Eric Monnin, the Swiss Match Racing Champion 2007, have received starting slots for the Match Race in the Swiss mountains.

Besides Paolo Cian (ITA) and Eric Monnin (SUI), reigning World Tour champion Ian Williams (GBR) and Sebastien Col (FRA) have confirmed they will be taking part. Other match-racing specialists to have declared their interest for this year’s edition is the current No 1 of the world-ranking list Mathieu Richard (FRA), and America’s Cup skippers Ed Baird (USA), Peter Gilmour (AUS), Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Jochen Schümann (GER) and Ben Ainslie (GBR). Confirmation of more top sailors is expected shortly.

Match Race Flag Set

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:11:00 +0000

New Season time to update the flags in the Club

The set is designed for a club to get all the necessary flags for 1 couple of boats.
If your club is already running match races or is planning to do so you will need 1 set for every 2 boats which includes also the umpire flags.
The same types of sets are also used for the UBS Alinghi Swiss Tour, World Match Racing Tour in St. Moritz, Lugano Match Cup and many other events.

2 boats flags:
1x Yankee with stick and elastic
1x Yellow
1x Blue
1x Red
1x Lima

1 Umpire set
2 x Yellow on stick
2 x Blue on stick
1 x Green and white
1 x Red
1 x Black

Spare:
1 x Yellow on stick
1 x Blue on stick

1 Bag to properly store the flags

Costs:
1 complete set: 350 CHF or 220 Euro excl. shipment

Possible or Impossible to build a 90 ft multihull in less than 8 months?

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:41:00 +0000

From Sebastien Destremau

In light of the current dilemma regarding Alinghi and Oracle disagreement on a Match date, Sebastien Destremau decided to speak with one of the most successful maxi multihull builder/designer’s in the World, Gilles Ollier from Multiplast who openly insists "It is impossible to build a 90 ft multihull in less than 8 months!"

Vannes 9 April 2008 - Sebastien Destremau: Gilles, can I ask you to first introduce yourself and your experience in designing and building maxi multihull’s?

GO: I created Multiplast in 1981. The year Formula One cars started using the carbon fiber to build their vehicle. In 1982/1983 we built our first all carbon boat Credit Agricole. Our techniques were developed and in 1987/88 we started using “the oven technology” and have never looked back ever since.

SD: So you have been building multihull for the last 25 years. What are the boats you have been building for the past, say, ten years?

GO: We have built several America’s Cup boats, the latest being in 2002 for the French team and some Orma 60 footers. As far as maxi multihulls are concerned, we’ve built the triplets for the Race 2000 (Club Med, etc,…) from design to construction. After these catamarans, we did Geronimo (VPLP design), Orange 2 (Ollier Design) and Groupama 3 (VPLP Design).

SD: I note that your designs are all catamarans whilst VLPL’s are trimarans. Can you elaborate on that?

GO: We believe catamarans are better for offshore racing and much simpler to design and build. You’ve got to remember that the program for these multi’s is generally to sail around the World so we look for safety as well as performance. There is no doubt that a Trimaran is much better suited for inshore racing or windward leeward type courses however they are trickier and take longer to build. They are also much more powerful as the ratio length/width is one for one as opposed to two for one for a cat.

SD: Trickier and longer to build?

GO: Yes. If you build a catamaran you can have one mould for both hulls and two crossbeams that can be of a similar design. Consequently you are saving a lot of time in the building process. The Tri’s are trickier because you obviously have to build three moulds, and you can have all the latest development features like foils, canting mast etc… and all of these consume a lot of productivity time in order to perform. Where as on a big Cat’s, these ‘features’ do not yet exist.

SD: How long did it take you to build some of your profile “beasts”?

GO: You are always pressured by external concerns like late sponsors’s decisions or last minute changes from the skippers or the design team. It took us 18 months to build Groupama 3 keeping in mind that we were not the designers (VPLP) and this tends to extend the building process.

Orange 2 was completed in 14 months. We are very proud of this achievement but we needed to employ 50 peoples to work the 100 000 hours necessary to build her.

With our experience track record in delivering these boats, we are very confident in our technology and process. To give you an example: We test each bucket of resin used and keep a record of it. I could give you the test results of the resin used to build Groupama 3 aft cross beam if need be. We also test each boat in the yard during one month before their sea-trial.

SD: 14 months for Orange 2?

GO: Yes, from conception to delivery. Bear in mind that three months are required to build the tools and moulds. This period of time can be reduced, if you are extremely well organized and plan in advance.

Also, some parts of the construction can be outsourced but again this takes a fair bit of forward planning and project management. Outsourcing has never been easy in our business and I personally try to avoid it for quality control purposes.

SD: I believe that Team Dennis Conner built not one, but two cats in 6 months twenty years ago. How did he manage to do that then when it took you 14 months to build Orange 2?

GO: You are right. Firstly they were only 60 foot long and extremely simple in design. A bit like a Tornado: two hulls and two cross beams, period, done, finished. The only developments were in the sails with a soft and a rigid mainsail but these were outsourced. It is definitively not comparable with an Orange 2, Groupama or Geronimo!

SD: So if I was to provide you with a complete set of plan’s for a 90 x 90 ft multihull today and asked you to build my boat for the America’s Cup match. What would you say?

GO: I would be very pleased especially if money is not an issue! (laugh) More seriously, I wouldn’t be ready to start building tomorrow that’s for sure! I would have to study the design, talk to your people, have meetings, and develop the tools etc before I can even consider laying the first piece of wood to build the pre form. Think about the carbon’s supply? Four to six weeks minimum for such high tech Carbon. And it comes from Japan too!

So lets say that your design team is extremely well organized and they give me the best set of designs I’ve ever seen. I would hire a large group of technicians and organize them on two eight hours shifts within a 24hour period.

SD: Two shifts? Why not three and work around the clock?

GO: Three x eight hours is not an option for us. The carbon has to dry and cure from time to time!

SD: Ok two shifts. What then?

GO: It is absolutely impossible for me to build a boat like this in less than eight months. Six if I can outsource to already contracted boat builders. Eight months would be a major achievement to deliver a boat like this keeping in mind that she wouldn’t be ready to sail within this time frame.

SD: Six to eight months and she is not even ready to sail? So how long before I can have my boat ready to race then?

GO: Ok, you can have your boat in eight months. Sailing? Maybe add another few weeks if all goes well. Now if you are talking about racing then think twice. Your boat is not going to be race ready until several months later.

Trimarans are extremely powerful, super light and rigidity is key to performance in multihull’s. This equation is like dynamite and it is very common to have serious breakages with this kind of boat when they are first launched. Remember Groupama 3’s accident last month? Well, how long did it take for Franck and his boys to build and develop her? Years!

Let me put it this way. It is easy for me to build a nice piece of art inside eight months for you. HOWEVER it will be a boat for a show room and certainly not a boat ready to race!!

After a couple of weeks of sea trials, you’ll probably loose a part of the hull, or break a mast or destroy a foil or maybe all of these altogether. This will set you back another month or two… so on and so forth.

These boats are a nightmare compared to an America’s Cup boat. A Cup boat is so easy to engineer, to build; there is nothing inside them! But a 90 x 90 foot multihull built for Grand prix type racing is a completely different ball game! Especially if your boat has to be very light (10 tones?) and has an expected life span of three to four months.

I’d love the challenge, though with all our knowledge and experience I honestly don’t see how this time frame can be reduced. We’ve been doing it for over 25 years now and I would be extremely surprised if anyone can beat me on a job like this!

SD: So what if the America’s Cup was sailed in 2008 then?

GO: You must be joking and you’ll have to find someone else to build your boat (laugh).

Seriously, I don’t know where the American Team is at with their building program, but I believe they are a couple of months off from launching so their boat is not going to be anywhere near ready to sail in July 2008.

October? Maybe. But they’ll have to pray they don’t have any major breakages before the event and for the wind to blow under 10/12 knots.

As for the Swiss, even if they start building right now, they are stuffed for 2008 anyway!

SD: So if I hear correctly, you are predicting no competitors if the Cup is in July of this year? And maybe one if it is in October 2008?

GO: Precisely. Pretty sad prospect isn’t it?

I am really looking forward to this DoG match. Can you imagine two 90 x 90 Trimarans, fitted with all the gismos, no budget constraints, sailed by the two best teams in the World, going head to head for the ultimate prize in sailing? What a race it will be! I cannot wait and the thought of watching it gives me a chill down my spine!

SD: We love your enthusiasm and you are obviously following this story very carefully. Do you have an opinion on the current situation?

GO: The legal situation? No. But I am a passionate about multihulls. According to what we’ve been told, Oracle did start building sometime late last year, good on them. They have hired, VPLP design and the Groupama’s Group, good on them again.

I have to say here that I am surprised they are not using more of these Groupama guy’s experience From what I have heard, they think they know better than the Frenchies and some of our compatriots are frustrated as is the case of Playstation.

Well, let me assure you of one thing, in my opinion the French people are the best in this business and with their experience accumulated over 20 to 30 years of maxi multihull’s, their 90 x 90 Trimaran would be “out of this World”. But then again who am I to say this? … just another Frenchman!

SD: Before we go, as a Frenchman and one of the World’s most qualified multihull designer/builder, is there anything you would like to add?

My closing comment would be the following assumption:

* If the Cup is to be sailed in October 2008 and Oracle doesn’t suffer any set back in their preparation, it will be a no contest.

* It will also be a no contest if the Cup is sailed in July 2008. Neither competitor can make it to the start line, in my opinion. Unless Alinghi can come up with a suitable boat and sail alone around the racecourse.

* Even if the Cup is in mid-2009 it will be a mammoth task for both teams to be race ready.

If the goal is to win the Cup at all costs, so be it. But for the sanctity of the sport, the later the event the better!

SD: Thank you for your time Gilles, it’s been a pleasure talking to you.

The LaFuga Sail Cup 2008 22 – 25 May a GR3 Match Race will be something special!

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:10:00 +0000

The Venue will be Trapani, in the west side of the Sicily (ITALY), well connected with all the European international airport with the Trapani airport (20km) and Palermo airport (60km) both served by many low cost flight company.

The Club is ambitious to organize top sport events and so they decided to get into the international match racing circuit as well. So far there is experience in running fleet races and certainly this Match Race will be a very funny experience as last year edition was.

The Event will be organized in cooperation with the Italian Sailing Federation and is in ISAF Caendar also at http://www.sailing.org/regattainfo.php?regattaid=10603

We will be happy to meet teams from every European Country but we will have only 4 places, so HURRY UP!!!!

Hope to meet you in Trapani

Contact: Salvo Altavilla info@matchracetrapani.it

Polish Match Racing

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:01:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

the match racing season is getting on the fast track. For some of you it is already underway and the others are just about to start racing.
This year Poland has developed the match racing base and will provide the national sailors in high level service of organized events. As a result of such an immense growth we decided to open our "playground" and would be happy to welcome on our national field also the sailors from abroad that could make their results better in ISAF Ranking by participating in our Grade 3 events.

We offer places for foreign competitors in following regattas:
3-4 May - Nieporęt Match Race - Zegrze, Warsaw
6-8 June - PYA Match Race Trophy - Gdańsk (linked with ISAF IU Seminar)
14-15 June - YKW Poznań Match Race - Poznań
28-29 June - Szczecin Match Race - Szczecin
9-10 August - YKP Gdynia Match Race - Gdynia
30-31 August - TKP Gdynia Match Race 2 - Gdynia
13-14 September - Zegrze Match Race - Zegrze, Warsaw

If anyone is interested please contact me directly on my e-mail: zofijka@hot.pl and I will be pleased to provide you in more details.
We are looking forward to meeting you in Poland.
Best wishes,
Sofia

The Décison 35 catamaran Banque Gonet withdraws from the class championship

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:11:00 +0000

Image (c) Juerg Kaufmann www.go4image.com

A founding member of the Décision 35 Class, initially a Class sponsor before acquiring a boat, “Banque Gonet” announces its withdrawal from the Class. Banque Gonet was sailing with Russell Coutts since three years. The team has – amongst others – won the prestigious Bol d’Or regatta in 2006.

Nicolas Gonet announces his withdrawal from the D 35 Class. Despite a very promising sportive season, that would have seen the arrival on lake Geneva of the team BMW ORACLE Racing on board his D35 Banque Gonet & Cie, most Class members have shown hostility during an owners meeting last Friday.

Team Gonet takes note of this position, which it respects but does not share. Despite its desire for continuity with its race team from previous years, Mr Gonet said he prefers to withdraw from a competition whose values he no longer shares.

The 6th St. Moritz Match Race event is on course !

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:32:00 +0000

ST. MORITZ – In early September, the sixth edition of the St. Moritz Match Race will take place, guaranteeing sailing at the highest level.

The sixth edition of the St. Moritz Match Race will take place from 2-7 September in the Engadine Valley, and will, once again, form part of the World Match Racing Tour for 2008. The Tour stages 10 events throughout the world and the prize money totals more than 2 million Swiss francs. In St. Moritz, the teams will be competing for a total purse of 150,000 Swiss francs.

Among the interested skippers is title-holder Ian Williams (GBR); the current No 1 of the world ranking list, Mathieu Richard (FRA); and the America’s Cup skippers Ed Baird (USA), Paolo Cian (ITA), Peter Gilmour (AUS), Sebastien Col (FRA), Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Jochen Schümann (GER) and Ben Ainslie (GBR). Already qualified for the event is Swiss National Match Racing Champion Eric Monnin.

On the sponsor side, contracts with the three existing partners – AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding, UBS and Badrutt’s Palace Hotel – have been renewed. These companies will be supporting this top sailing event in Switzerland this year as main partners.

New OC President and America’s Cup sailor Christian Scherrer is delighted about the secured finances for the St Moritz Match Race 2008. “Now we can concentrate on the sport and organisation side of the event.” Following uncertainty about the next America’s Cup, Scherrer looks forward to a fuller than average turnout of top sailors for the Match Race in the Engadine.

PRESSURE BUILDING FOR AN ISAF REVOTE

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 04:17:00 +0000

Source: sailjuiceblog.com

A letter from outgoing ISAF president Arve Sundheim to members of ISAF Council suggests there is unlikely to be a reconsideration of the Olympic events vote taken in Estoril back in early November.

Click here to download a pdf of the letter: sailjuiceblog.files.wordpress.com

Sundheim defends the voting procedure and claims that ISAF paid due consideration to the IOC's requirements.

But pressure is building from national authorities to get a revote next May at the ISAF mid-year meeting in Qingdao. Following Yachting Australia's and the Royal Yachting Association's open requests for a revote, Yachting New Zealand is now also looking to do the same, according to a report on Sail World.

Talking of strategy, that is the point that Rod Carr wanted to get across when I spoke to the RYA chief exec earlier today. "We want to see ISAF getting away from 'sticking plaster' politics and taking a more strategic approach to the future of the sport," he said.

"That's why we're doing what we're doing. Even if ISAF said 'match racing is part of our strategy', we might not agree with it but we would at least go along with it, if that was part of a strategy that had been properly thought through."

Carr has had a number of conversations with other national authorities behind the scenes, and is confident that sufficient momentum is building towards a revote next May. Among other nations that are believed to have written to ISAF are Canada, Spain, Austria and Singapore. A few others, like France, have yet to decide whether or not to follow suit.

Meanwhile, the members of the ISAF Athletes Commission are weighing up the possibility of running a questionnaire of all the competitors in the 2008 Olympic class World Championships, most of which are taking place in Australia or New Zealand in the next two months.

If they go ahead with this, it will be interesting to see how Olympic sailors themselves would choose the classes for 2012. We had some indication of that in the SailJuice survey a few weeks ago, although the sample of Olympic sailors was perhaps not sufficient to draw any hard conclusions.

UBS Match Race Award

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:08:00 +0000

It has always been one of the aim of matchrace.ch to support upcoming and new talented team, therefore it’s pleasure to let you know that the team from Gian Luca Perris who recently won the match race in Montecarlo has been awarded with the UBS Match Race Award:

Read what Gian Luca wrote us today:

The end of 2007 gave us good news.

Dangerous but Fun Match Race Team had the honor to receive the UBS sailing awards, and I had the chance, as helmsmen, to take it from the Prince Albert (Attached you find a picture of the event. Yes I am really happy).

Once again I like to remind to us all that I practice the best team sport of the world. I share this price with the rest of the team: Francois Brenac (Tactician and main sail trimmer), Philippe Buchart (head sails trimmer) and Romuald Chasseray (bowman) that performed remarkably during the all season.

I personally dedicate this award to my father Michele that, among many other things, transmitted me the passion for the sea and for sailing.

I take the occasion to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Great New Year.

Gian Luca Perris

Fianl count down for the Dubai Gold Cup

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:58:00 +0000

Next week, The Dubai Gold Cup promises to be a great conclusion to the first RC 44 Championship Tour, we will will be onsite and report on a daily base.

The regatta will reassemble eight teams representing eight nations. Both fleet and match races are scheduled. The winner of the Dubai Gold Cup will be the team with the smallest number of points in the combination of fleet and match races.

The three leaders of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2007 (Chris Bake’s Team Aqua with pro sailor Cameron Appleton, Russell Coutts’ Team Omega and Miroslav Reljanovic’s Cro-A-Sail) are comfortably established at the top of the RC 44 Championship Tour. However, the regatta promises to be intense with newcomers ES Bankers Dubai (Patrick De Barros / Dean Barker), Team Ceeref (Igor Lah / James Spithill) and Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano (Armando Giulietti / Sébastien Col).

The Dubai Gold Cup will start on Thursday, with fleet races. A match racing round-robin is scheduled on Friday and Saturday whilst the teams will complete the fleet race on Sunday. A short coastal race will be incorporated in the fleet race ranking. With such an exceptional group of some of the best sailors in the world, united in a great location, the event promises to be fantastic.

The first RC 44 Champion will be crowned on Sunday, December 16. The Class Association is looking forward to concluding a first very successful season and is proud to announce that the 2008 program is already finalised.

The teams involved:

(Name of team, owner, pro sailor)

Team Aqua, Chris Bake / Cameron Appleton
Team ES Bankers Dubai, Patrick De Barros / Dean Barker
Team Ceeref, Igor Lah / James Spithill
Team Organika, Maciej Nawrocki / Mateusz Kusznierewicz
Team Omega, Russell Coutts
Cro-A-Sail, Miroslav Reljanovic / Morten Henrikson
Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano, Armando Giulietti / Sébastien Col
Team Beecom, Isao Mita / Kevin Harrap

Harken Sydney: Tom Spithill sets early pace

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:46:00 +0000

[Source: www.rpayc.com.au]

The host clubs Tom Spithill, Nina Curtis, Andy Hudson and Ian McKillop set the early pace today winning all 5 of their matches on Day 1 of the HARKEN International Youth Match Racing Championship. Adrian Short from Sandspit Yacht Club NZL also had a good day with his team winning 4 out of 5 matches in his first appearance at the "HARKEN". But its very early days with 4 teams having sailed only 1 match so far whilst Perths Robert Gibbs and James Williamson NZL had their only match postponed due to a broken main batten. Earlier this year Gibbs won the Cowes Youth Week Match in the UK and is expected to make a strong showing here.

It was no easy run for Spithill though who copped a penalty just 20 secs into match one of the regatta for a tardy dial-up. Trailing by three boatlengths at one stage he closed up the game and forced RSYS Jordan Reece beyond the Committee boat, unloading his penalty on the way back up to the finish line to take the match. In Flight 5, Phil Robertson from RNZYS looked set to take the gun ahead of Spithill but a last minute penalty turned the tables.

Young Ted Hackney from the CYCA incurred a pre-start penalty in Flight 6 but led off the line and was first into the increasing puffs from the left. But RSYS David Chapman managed an overlap at the bottom mark and Hackney was penalised twice more as he rounded too close and it was out with the black flag!

The breeze was light from the East and very shifty early on eventually settling to around 7-10 kts. A light NE'er is expected to build to 15-20 kts tomorrow which should provide some exciting downwind action. Racing finished at 5pm today to allow competitors to join the Sydney 38 fleet for some twilight racing

2007 Harken Youth Match Race Championship

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:40:00 +0000

In Europe it's raining and snowing and in the mean time they are racing at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in warm weather...

The HARKEN is one of the premier events for youth on the International match racing calendar. During its 16 year history The Harken has served as a launch pad for a number of international yachting stars.

The 2007 Harken International Youth Match Racing Championships takes place on the beautiful waters of Pittwater, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, from the 5th to 9th December 2007. The Event will be sailed will be sailed in The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s fleet of Force 24 performance keelboats.

This year’s event, the 15th running and 10th consecutively with sponsors HARKEN will see twelve teams of four crew (all under 21 years of age) competing: four from New Zealand (2 x RNZYS, 1 x RPNYC, 1 x SYC), two from Perth ( 1 X RFBYC, 1 x RPYC) and six from Sydney (2 x RPAYC, 2 X RSYS, 2 X CYCA).

HARKEN 2007 Entries:
Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club: Richard McPharlin, Steve Locke, Jay Halligan, TBA.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (1): James Williamson, William Tiller, Bradley Farrand, Michael Edmonds.
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (2): Phil Robertson, Garth Ellingham, Max Andrews, Scott Morrison.
Royal Perth Yacht Club: Robert Gibbs, Kinley Fowler, Tom Hobbs, Jeremy Wawn.
Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club: Josh Junior, Matthew Steven, Adam Middleton, Chris Jones.
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (1): Thomas Spithill, Nina Curtis, Ian McKillop, Andrew Hudson.
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (2): Sam Sexton, Danny Doyle, Carla Sexton, Fran Dargaville.
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (1): David Chapman, Tom Scardifield, Anthony Proud, Nick Howe.
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (2): Jordan Reece, Michael Reece, Anousha Fluck, Alexandra South.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (1): Edward (Ted) Hackney, Kyle Langford, Will Mackenzie, Jono English.
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (2): Byron White, Jamie Woods, Keiran Searle, Jeremy Wawn.
Sandspit Yacht Club: Adrian Short, Jed Martin, Reuben Corbett, Matthew Randell.

Interview with Russell Coutts about the current cup situation

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:17:00 +0000

Image (c) RC44

Today one of the largest Swiss newspapers punkt.ch published an interview with Russell Coutts talking about the cup, here is the entire interview.

[Source: punkt.ch]

1: How realistic do you see the chance that there will be an agreement with Alinghi to run the 33^rd Cup as previously planned in 2009
We think it is realistic, but we need to move quickly. The challengers and ourselves all want to race in Valencia in 2009. But to get started we need certainty, and that’s why it will be important to complete a mutual consent challenge as soon as possible.

2: In case of no agreement this means no challenger series, what would this mean for the sailing sport?
That is up to Alinghi. We want a multiple challenger event, but as defender they are within their rights to reject a mutual consent challenge. If that happens a two-boat race is inevitable under the rules. It is however not our preference as we want to race a conventional America's Cup in Valencia in 2009, with as many challengers as possible.

3: In this case the cup will be sailed on catamarans? If yes who would benefit of?
We will see when - if - we get there. This would certainly not be good for the challengers.

4: Earlier you been on board of Alinghi, What do you say about the behavior of Ernesto Bertarelli/ Alinghi since he won the cup the second time?
It is not about people but it is about the America's Cup. And we have said clearly what we think is best for the event.

5: Ernesto Bertarelli is described as arrogant rich Swiss, is he compromising the image of Switzerland?
Again, what interests me is the future of the Cup.

6: Some of the sponsors already left the cup. Some of the Alinghi main sponsors are considering to leave due to the conflicts. How big is the financial damage due to the behavior of Alinghi.
It is too early to say but the current situation is certainly not good for our sport.

7: BMW-Oracle and Alinghi are not short on budget, are only suffering the smaller teams due to this conflict?
I think the entire event suffers from the current situation. It's not good for anybody. It's really time to move on and seriously discuss the future of the event.

Team Pindar celebrates the World Champion title!

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:00:00 +0000

source: www.sailing.org and www.worldmatchracingtour.com

Ian Williams and his Team Pindar have won the ISAF Match Racing World Championship held in Malaysia. This is the double victory as the Brits took both the World Championship title and World Match Racing Tour 2006/2007 title.
First step was to beat Shosholoza skipper Paolo Cian in the semi-finals what Williams finally managed to do with the result 3-2.
Then Team Pindar defeated in the final four-time World Match Racing Tour Champion Peter Gilmour 3-1. That was an exiting fight till the end.
As Williams admitted he was a bit nervous before the final matches but his team did a great job to calm him down. Not surprising considering the big value of victory.
Now Williams and his victorious team can enjoy the great success!

Monsoon Cup, 15th and Final Stage of the 2006 –’07 World Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:48:00 +0000

Source: WMRT

What – Monsoon Cup, 15th and Final Stage of the 2006 –’07 World Tour
Where – Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
When – November 28 – December 2, 2007
Prize Purse – RM 1,000,000 ($300,000.00)

Entry List
Mathieu Richard (FRA) – Saba Sailing Team
Ian Williams (GBR) – Team Pindar
Paolo Cian (ITA) – Shosholoza
Sebastien Col – Areva Challenge
Bjorn Hansen (DEN) – Team Apport.net
Peter Gilmour (AUS) – PST
Jesper Radich (AUS) – Radich Racing Team
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) – Alandia Sailing Team
Katie Spithill (AUS) – Team Acuity
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) – Torvar Mirsky Team
Adam Minoprio (NZL) – BlackMatch Racing
Tiffany Koo (MAS) – Selangor UK Halsey Gapurna

About Stage 15
The Monsoon Cup is the final Stage, of the 2006-07 season. In its third year the Monsoon Cup has maintained its prominent position on the World Tour. Offering the richest prize purse for a sailing event, RM1 million ($300,000).

The Monsoon Cup 2007 is the final ISAF Grade WC match race regatta this year and will see a new ISAF Match Racing World Champion crowned. To ensure the Monsoon Cup is an absolute thriller championship points from the event count double and must be included in the series score, guaranteeing a fight to the end with any one of 5 of the top teams able to win the World Championship.

Duyong Island at the mouth of the Terengganu River plays host to the Monsoon Cup where the purpose built sailing facility acts as a grandstand overlooking the racing area making a spectacular setting for this final event. The Monsoon Cup will be sailed in the identically matched and supplied Bakewell-White designed Foundation 36’s with 5 crew. Live coverage on Saturday and Sunday between 1400-1600 (UTC +8), including the semi-finals and finals, will be shown on Eurosport, Star Sports Asia, Showtime Arabia and Sky NZ.
You wouldn’t want to miss it!

ROD DAVIS WINS NZ MATCH RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:47:00 +0000

Source:www.rnzys.org.nz & ValenciaSailing

Rod Davis with his Emirates Team New Zealand crew of Tony Rae, Grant Loretz, Chris Ward and Richard Meecham have 'done the impossible' have beaten Dean Barker in the finals of the New Zealand Match Racing Championships on the Waitemata harbour today! It was nail - biting racing as Davis won the first, Barker the second, Barker the third, Davis the fourth as the final went down to the very last race in the best of 5 series.

The start was even and during the day the breeze had increased to over 20 knots. This increased breeze tested the crews and Davis's crew were up to the challenge. At the top mark Davis was around first but Barker was close behind, just a boat length in it. Davis had a good hoist and as the spinnaker set, the boat lurched towards the bottom mark. Barker and team did the same and were right on Davis' transom. The spectators watching around Westhaven marina and from the Members Bar deck at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron were leaning out over the rock wall and balcony to gain a better line of sight! The race was extremely close!

At the top mark for the second time Davis again rounded the top mark in front and kept just in front of Barker to win the race, win the regatta & win the New Zealand Match Racing Championships for the second time.

In the petit final Chris Dickson and his young crew won the first race against Laurie Jury. Jury then went onto to win the next two races in the strengthening breeze and secure third spot in the regatta.

Final Placings
1. Rod Davis - ETNZ / RNZYS
2. Dean Barker - ETNZ / RNZYS
3. Laurie Jury - Kiwimatch
4. Chris Dickson - RNZYS
5. Adam Minoprio - Blackmatch / RNZYS
6. Michael Thorpe - RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme
7. Jonathan Rankine - RNZYS
8. David Wood - Killer Racing / RNZYS
9. Phil Robertson - RNZYS
10. Jess Smyth - Georgia Racing / RNZYS
11. Jan Dawson - RNZYS
12. Simon Dickey - Frontend Racing / RNZY

SOUTH AMERICAN MATCH-RACE TOUR STAGE BRAZIL 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:08:00 +0000

After an intense year of challenges the South American Match-race Tour, the nautical event with more exposure in South America, will have it’s 4º Stage at the Brazilian cost for the first time. Porto Alegre it’s the chosen venue for the championship that will take place from November 30th to December 2nd of this current year.

Some of the top level skippers which will participate at the 4º Stage of the Tour are:

• From USA: Dave Perry, Coach from the America´s Cup Victory Challenge and multiple champion of the match racing discipline

• From Brazil: Daniel Glomb; Nº 1 of the discipline in South America, Nelson Ilha; International Umpire and Brazilian champion, Ricardo Lobato; International Umpire, Marcos Mascarenhas; champion of the match racing discipline and Henrique Haddad; South American champion.

• From Argentina: Juan Ignacio Grimaldi, Nº 1 of the discipline in Argentina and skipper from the TAG Heuer sailing team.

• From Uruguay: Diego Garcia, J/24 Champion and Silver Medal

The event will be a selective phase for the Perú Match-race Cup, next Stage of the South American Match-race Tour and it counts with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) support, the major yachting institution worldwide, which provided Grade 3 to the competition.

Women MR in the Games - how did it happen?

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:51:00 +0000

Multihull is out of Olympic Games 2012. This message was passed by ISAF Council on Friday. As you already know from Jurg Women Keelboat in Match Racing format was approved creating big chance for whole world of sailing.

How did it happen? That was a question asked by many people in Estoril, especially those in favour for 2 persons high performance for women. ISAF Match Racing Committee in associoation with WIMRA worked through many years to convince the world of sailing that women keelboat match racing is vital for sailing to become more media and spectators friendly. Collected statistics proved that nations' participation in Yngling events and participation in women match racing are of a big difference. All in favour of match racing. First step on the path of receiving Council's approval was Women's Sailing Committee where it was decided that women keelboat is supported and when chosen for the 2012 Games it shall be run in match racing format.
Second step was more difficult and interestingly not successfull. Another vote was however taken by Events Committee which excluded both keelboat men and women from the list of possible olympic events together with proposal of multihull for women. To reject Events Committee recomendation 19 votes must have been collected by ISAF Council and the result was... 19! Just enough to start voting from the early beginning.
And luckly this time fortunate for women keelboat that was approved together with the decision on replacing fleet racing with match racing format.
Nevetheless the true task is just ahead. Now it is time to work on successful campain for increasing the participation in women match racing till Olympic Games 2012.
Keep your fingers crossed as this is a real step forward in terms of match racing "come-back" to the Games.

Sofia

By by tornado and welcome women match racing

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:43:00 +0000

This morning in Estoril during the ISAF year meeting the long expected decision ha been taken.

The tornado have to leave the Olympic circuit. It think it's a pity that from now on we will miss the multihull.

On the other hand women matchracing will replace what today is the Yngling event. The boat is not yet decided.

The Vote

The voting was extremely close and there was a palpable sense of tension in the meeting room as the Council awaited the results. In total there were 36 ballot papers (two Council members did not vote after declaring a conflict of interest, and the President saved his vote in the case of a tie).

The results of the vote were:

Men – top six events selected

One person dinghy – Men (36 votes)
Windsurfer – Men (35 votes)
Two person dinghy – Men (34 votes)
Two person dinghy high performance – Men (34 votes)
One person dinghy heavy – Men (33 votes)
Keelboat – Men (23 votes)
Multihull – Men or Open (21 votes)

Women – top four events selected

One person dinghy – Women (35 votes)
Windsurfer – Women (34 votes)
Two person dinghy – Women (31 votes)
Keelboat match racing – Women (21 votes)
Two person dinghy high performance – Women (20 votes)
Multihull – Women (3 votes)

Jürg

Jesper Radich takes the 16th Berlin Match Race

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:31:00 +0000

The 16^th Berlin mach race ended with sun and Jesper Radich as winner against the local favorite Markus Wieser.

After the 3^rd round robin Radich choose Hestbaeck as opponent for the semifinal. The 2 Danish teams delivered a trilling duel, with several lead changes and spectacular mark rounding’s Jesper Radich qualified for the final with a 2:1 against Michael Hestbaeck.

In the other semifinal Markus Wieser qualified for the final against Damien Iehl with a clear 2:0 victory.

After 2 days with cold temperatures the sun finally came and the several hundred spectators on the 3 large vessels with the charismatic life comments from Christoph Schumann where ready to follow the final races.

They were all decided in the prestart by Jesper Radich, Markus Wieser never gave up until the end, despite that, the final result is 3:0 for Jesper Radich.

In the petite final Damien Iehl came out as winner with 2:1 against Micheal Hestbaeck .

Final results:
1. Radich
2. Wieser
3. Iehl
4. Hestbaek
5. Lindberg
6. Ian Ainslie
7. 8. Destremeau
7. 8. Monnin
9. 10. Vitloft
9. 10. Hansen
11. 12. Mirsky
11. 12. Willim

Match Race Berlin Day 2, 4 semifianlists are choosen

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 17:25:00 +0000

Although the day remained grey and the sailors were accompanied by a constant drizzle, unlike yesterday Rasmus supplied the sailors with suitable conditions for all necessary Flights to be completed.

Due to fairly constant wind forces, despite some unexpected changes in direction, the second match day was completed without major problems. A cold, yet exciting day for both spectators and competitors. Two large pleasure boats were provided by the chatter Riedel, thus supplying spectator tribunes for over 1000 onlookers.

Ian Ainslie (South Africa), Jesper Radich and Michael Hestbaek the two Danes, the Frenchman Damien Iehl, the Finn Staffan Lindberg as well as the cup defender Markus Wieser qualified themselves for the second round robin.

The round robin three proved that there is a strong field here in Berlin, and thus tomorrow is bound to provide us with further nerve wrecking matches. All of the four qualified competitors have confirmed that they possess the talent to compete in the 16. Berlin Match race finals on Sunday. Thus this years competitors once again promise a rather exciting match day tomorrow, where it is truly impossible to predict a favourite.

Semifinalits are

Markus Wieser (Germany)
Michael Hestbaek (Denmark)
Jerper Radich (Denmark)
Damien Iehl (France)

Berlin day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:44:00 +0000

Photo (c) Stephan Zimmermann

The drawings for the two round robin groups on Thursday, which resulted in both German helmsmen not competing until the afternoon of the first match day, the starting shot was fired punctually at 11.00 o’clock. Accordingly, Staffan Lindberg (Finland), Torvar Mirsky (Australia), Ian Ainslie (South Africa), Jesper Radich (Denmark), Rasmus Viltoft (Denmark) and Sebatien Destremeau (France) matched one another, competing for places one, two and three. A ranking to determine who will move into round robin 3.

Weather conditions were as followed: the typical cold, grey November day with a continuous drizzle at wind strength 2Bft.

Both America’s Cup participants, Ainslie of Team Shosholoza (south Africa) and Radich, sailing for Desafio (Spain), satisfied their role of favourites from the start. After four Flights and four wins, both are tied for first place. Thus the winner of this group will be determined following their encounter on match day two, tomorrow.

Round robin two commenced, after a short delay, with the two German helmsmen Markus Wieser and Andreas Willim, as well as the Swede Björn Hansen, the Dane Michael Haestbaek, the Swiss Eric Monnin and the Frenchman Damien Iehl ready to compete. Unfortunately the wind and weather were not consistent enough to complete the essential four matches, and thus have been postponed to tomorrow.

Whilst Markus Wieser, the German favourite, commenced this first match day with a range of results, an initial victory against Andreas Willim, his fellow countryman, followed by a lost match against the Swiss Eric Monnin, his fellow competitor Iehl finished the day with a double victory.

Consequently as Rasmus lacked compassion for today’s competitors, the race committee was forced to postpone the missing two races to tomorrow morning.

See more pictures from Berlin

ISAF Annual Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 09:26:00 +0000

For the next 10 days representatives of the whole sailing world will be discussing and deciding on the matters of sailing future during ISAF Annual Conference held in Estoril, Portugal.
The "crucial point" of this year's meeting will be the selection of events for the Olympic Games 2012. Due to the IOC requirement, sailing was deprived of 1 event and instead of 11 as run so far we will be able to have only 10 sailing events in London.
Such a serious decision of IOC caused a huge concern about sailing presence in the Games in general as well as vision of peril for many International Class Associations. The big question is now which event will be thrown away???

Nevertheless, despite hard decisions to be taken there is also a chance for match racing to return as the olympic format. Number of submissions have been issued to ISAF supporting the keelboat for women as one of the 10 olympic events followed by the change of format from fleet racing to match racing. A lot of MNAs stand at the position that women match racing can help our discipline to become more media friendly and show sailing as the sport full of passion, excitment, adrenaline and high performance. Will this attitude convince ISAF to include match racing as the new olympic format?

First steps will be taken by ISAF Committees reporting to Events Committee about their recommendations. On November 7, second step will take place during Events Committee meeting which is one of the most important committees on deciding the events and equipment used at the Olympic Games. Recommendation of Events Committee will be then strongly considered by ISAF Council who will decide if at least women match racing will face the olympic challenge in 2012.

Stay with us for more up-dates on this issue.
Best regards,
Sofia

AC90 is born

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:32:00 +0000

The new rule is burn....go and read details on: america's cup webpage

Where you from ?

noreply@blogger.com (Juerg) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:17:00 +0000

Hi readers
from time to time I go and take a look at the statistics on our match race portal, as today.
2 years ago we thought we need a platform for us in Switzerland, and we were completely wrong, today the Swiss readers are only 23% the rest is from all over the world.
A very surprising fact is Argentina at the 6th position with 4%.

What's next? This weekend we will umpiring the Berlin match race, hope it will not be to cold....maybe dreaming about Argentina.

Thank you readers, this stuff keeps us motivated.

Jürg