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Tags: J Class, The Superyacht Cup

Photo gallery: Spectacular J Class racing in Palma

Posted on 19 June 2013 by Valencia Sailing

Five J Class yacht had a spectacular day of racing in Palma on Wednesday, opening day of the Superyacht Cup. Top Spanish photographer Jesús Renedo was there and shot plenty of equally spectacular photos. To read about the day’s action, you can find the official press release here

Superb day for the five J Class yacht at the 2013 Superyacht Cup. Palma de Mallorca, 19 June 2013. Photo copyright Jesús Renedo / www.sailingstock.com

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Tags: J Class, The Superyacht Cup

The Superyacht Cup – Day 1: A perfect day for the J Class

Posted on 19 June 2013 by Valencia Sailing

[Source: The Superyacht Cup] The first day of the Superyacht Cup proved to be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the powerful J’s. Conditions in the bay of Palma were predictably perfect with the early afternoon sea breeze averaging 15-19 knots and wave height of only 1.5m, a contrast to the last battle of the J’s in St Barths – teams today were anticipating that the flatter more protected sea would provide a more level playing field where tactics and team work would be paramount.

An all clear start at 1.05pm for a 3 lap windward leeward, with Lionheart taking the windward end of the line. The right hand side of the course seemed to pay off for the first beat, and indeed for most of the race. Those that headed towards the cathedral seemed to have the advantage.

Lionheart led Hanuman around the first mark, and it was a tight pack that followed with only boat lengths between the 5 J’s. At the first downwind gate it was neck and neck between Hanuman and Lionheart on the rounding, however on the second beat Hanuman gained a steady lead favouring the right hand side of the course.

Superb day for the five J Class yacht at the 2013 Superyacht Cup. Palma de Mallorca, 19 June 2013. Photo copyright Jesús Renedo / www.sailingstock.com

Nearing the top windward mark Hanuman was nearly a full ten boat lengths in front of Lionheart, before Lionheart unfortunately had an issue with her jib enabling the rest of the fleet to catch up and give Hanuman the clear lead. Second around the mark was Velsheda, followed within seconds by Rainbow and Ranger; Lionheart was quick to rejoin the race although now at the back of the fleet.

The second downwind leg saw another movement in the positions, Hanuman still in the clear but Ranger again taking the preferred side of the course took second round the mark from Rainbow by a close 30 seconds. Velsheda, with a torn spinnaker meant that she was last through the gate. Up the last beat, Ranger kept a good four boat lengths over the remaining fleet, covering Velsheda as she tacked over.

At the last windward mark, Hanuman retained first, followed by Ranger four minutes later. The tousle was now on between Rainbow, Lionheart and Velsheda, who were covering tack for tack.

The last downwind leg was glorious, a true spectacle that all had come to be party to. It was a close race, after two hours all 5 J’s crossed the line within five minutes of one another.

Superb day for the five J Class yacht at the 2013 Superyacht Cup. Palma de Mallorca, 19 June 2013. Photo copyright Jesús Renedo / www.sailingstock.com

On corrected time Hanuman won by one and half minutes, Ranger took second with the closest finish between Lionheart and Rainbow whose positions were reversed on handicap with Lionheart taking third by eleven seconds.

After racing Ken Read, helmsman on Hanuman said “Today was what it should be like. If today was your first day’s sailing it couldn’t get any better and you might as well retire! The conditions were what you would pray for. The calibre of racing is fantastic, it is impressive how all those magnificent machines are being sailed.”

Tomorrow will see the first race for the 15 Superyachts, and the second windward leeward for the J’s.

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Tags: C Class, Team Hydros

Launch of the revolutionary Hydros C-Class catamaran

Posted on 18 June 2013 by Valencia Sailing

[Source: Team Hydros] The first Team Hydros C-Class catamaran took to the water at La Grande Motte for its maiden voyage. This is the first time a vessel using TPT carbon fiber technology, the latest development in composite materials, takes to the water!

“It is a momentous occasion for our team and all the people and companies involved in developing this unique yacht,” said Jérémie Lagarrigue, head of the Hydros project and skipper of one of the two yachts.

With support from Lombard Odier & Cie, this revolutionary yacht, designed by Team Hydros working alongside HDS, VPLP and EPFL and built at the Décision SA shipyard in Ecublens, is the outcome of several years of cutting-edge technological research. Clearly this maiden voyage is a huge achievement.

“It was a really great first experience,” Bastiaan Tentij, a team member on one of the two catamarans, told us. “We were able to get a really good feel for the boat and realized just how powerful the rigid wing is! Mischa Heemskerk, at the helm, was genuinely thrilled by the sensation. After the initial outings we will make the final adjustments and launch the second boat, which will allow us to sail together and compare different configurations. We reached a speed of 17 knots with 6 knots wind, it was amazing!”

In the past few months the final preparation and assembly of the two Hydros catamarans has taken place at La Grande Motte, in a 150 square meter tent with strictly limited access! The technical team, made up of Gaël Ledoux, Anthony Rezzoug and François Cazala, assembled all the parts that arrived from Switzerland and ran the static tests.

The sailing team, made up of Jérémie Lagarrigue and Billy Besson, and the Dutch pair Mischa Heemskerk and Bastiaan Tentij, trained intensively on two Nacra F20 catamarans, sailing simultaneously in numerous international competitions with top results.

Now both teams can finally move to a higher level and train with their sights set on the Little Cup. Their next goal is clear: to evaluate the two C-Class vessels and optimize them for the “Little America’s Cup,” the International C-Class Catamaran Championship, to be held in Falmouth, UK this coming September.

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Tags: Oman Air, Route des Princes, Sidney Gavignet

Oman Air leads Route des Princes fleet to Lisbon

Posted on 09 June 2013 by Valencia Sailing

Once you experience a day of racing such as Saturday had to offer, it is difficult to get excited with the 30-minute inshore race the eight boats held in front of Malvarosa beach before heading to Lisbon. Conditions were very good but definitely calmer than yesterday. The westerly “Poniente” breeze coming from central Spain blew for a third day but it was evident it was waning while a threatening front was clearly visible further north. There were hardly any flying hulls, very little boat to boat interaction and the fleet was spread out throughout the race area.

All eight participating boats shared the same starting line and immediately after the gun was fired, Oman Air sprang into the lead. The Omani MOD70, skippered by Sidney Gavignet, hit the line at full pace and stayed in the lead during the two full laps around the buoys, stretching her advantage to the rest of the fleet.

The initial schedule of the race called for an initial 80-nm leg north to Benicarló before coming back south towards Lisbon. You should always keep in mind Benicarló is said to be the Spanish artichoke capital and this being a race sponsored by farmers, it is important for the race to sail by. The race committee decided however to eliminate that part for the Multi 50′s as a giant wind hole 30 miles north of Valencia, with a breeze between 1 and 5 knots, was threatening to compromise the race calendar and the risk to take was deemed too big. As a result, after the final buoy off the Valencia port entrance, the MOD70′s headed north while the three Multi 50′s sailed south, directly to Lisbon.

Start of the offshore leg to Lisbon. Oman Air takes the early lead, followed by Spindrift Racing. Valencia, 9 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Edmond de Rothschild had an average start at the back of the fleet. Valencia, 9 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Oman Air is comfortably leading at the third mark. Valencia, 9 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Groupe Edmond de Rothschild climbs to second place at the third mark. Valencia, 9 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Although she doesn’t take part officially in the in-shore races, Prince de Bratagne Maxi 80 competes in the offshore legs. Valencia, 9 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

FenêtréA-Cardinal was the leading Multi 50. Valencia, 9 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

And off they go! Oman Air rounds the last buoy off Malvarosa beach in the lead and heads north to the Benicarló buoy. Valencia, 9 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

And off they go! Spindrift Racing rounds the last buoy off Malvarosa beach in second place and heads north to the Benicarló buoy. Valencia, 9 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

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Tags: Edmond de Rothschild, Gitana Team, Route des Princes, Sébastien Col, Sébastien Josse

Gitana Team thrashes MOD70 fleet in Valencia under superb conditions

Posted on 08 June 2013 by Valencia Sailing

I hate using superlatives to describe a sailing race but Saturday was probably one of the very few days, at least here in Valencia, that it was truly warranted in what regards the weather and Gitana’s performance. Luckily enough, it was one of those days where the usual “it wasn’t like that last week” or “this doesn’t usually happen here” held true. As the low front moved away on Friday night, a westerly breeze, coming from central Spain, blew all day. As a result, the usual thermal breeze didn’t build, we had 18 to 25 knots throughout the afternoon and completely flat seas. When you throw in the equation four ultra fast trimarans, blue skies and perfect lighting, the end result can only be spectacular.

In what regards Gitana Team’s performance, perfect must be the most adequate word. Race starts, boat speed, maneuvers, tactics, crew work were all flawless. It seemed as if the day for them was a simple training session where everything went smoothly and as planned and with the exception of the first mark of the very first race, the MOD70 sponsored by Groupe Edmond de Rothschild had the fleet at her stern.

Sunday, however, doesn’t look extremely positive. The Route des Princes fleet is scheduled to start the offhsore leg to Lisbon at 2pm and then head 60nm miles to Benicarló, the Iberian artichoke capital (don’t forget that this race is sponsored by artichoke farmers…), round a buoy and then sail back south towards Gibraltar and Lisbon. The race committee decided the Multi 50 fleet should sail directly south as a huge wind hole approximately 30nm north of Valencia could compromise the schedule and result in the MOD70′s reaching Lisbon well ahead of the Multi 50′s.

Race 1
Despite an average start in the first race at the back of the fleet, Gitana Team showed their form from early on. It took them just one leg to overtake PAPREC Virbac, take the lead and never look back.

Start of the day’s first race. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

PAPREC Virbac takes the lead at the first mark. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Edmond de Rothschild leads at the approach to the fourth mark. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Start of a good day for Edmond de Rothschild. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Oman Air rounds the fourth mark in third place. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Great victory for Gitana Team. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Oman Air takes third place. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Spindrift Racing finishes dead last. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Race 2
The day’s second race was clearly one-sided with Edmond de Rothschild taking the upper hand right from the onset. Yet another perfect start saw the Gitana XV MOD70 spring to the lead, round the first reaching mark ahead of the fleet and stay in that posision until they crossed the finish line. Oman Air added some spice to the race at the third mark when they missed it and had to sail back to round it. As expected, that blunder threw them at the back of the fleet, crossing the finish line well behind the other three boats.

Start of the day’s second race. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Edmond de Rothschild takes lead at the first mark. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Edmond de Rothschild comfortably ahead at the third mark. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

PAPREC Virbac approaching the third mark. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Spindrift Racing and Oman Air approaching the third mark. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Gitana XV takes the second race as well. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

PAPREC Virbac takes second place. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Spindrift racing takes third place. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Race 3
If there was one race where Gitana’s domination was absolute, it was the third and final one. In fact, one wouldn’t need more than two-three lines to describe it. I would even go as far as call it boring, lacking any suspense. Sébastien Josse nailed the start and although Varbe Piprac was ahead at the pin end, Gitana was clearly faster and zoomed ahead towards the reaching mark. The Edmond de Rothschild MOD70 rounded the mark comfortably in the lead from that moment there was nothing the rest of the fleet could do. Gitana extended their lead in every leg and crossed the finish line with a big advantage, pocketing their third bullet in three races.

Start of the day’s third race. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Gitana XV is in the lead at the first mark. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Gitana XV is in the lead at the fourth mark. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Spindrift Racing rounds the fourth mark in second place. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Oman Air rounds the fourth mark in third place. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

PAPREC Virbac rounds the fourth mark in fourth place. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Yet another win for Sébastien Josse and his crew. Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

Yet another last place for Sidney Gavignet and his crew on Oman Air, the fourth one in six races! Valencia, 8 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

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Tags: Gitana XV, Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, MOD70, Sébastien Josse

Route des Princes starts with thrilling inshore races

Posted on 07 June 2013 by Valencia Sailing

How could Thursday’s exciting race onboard the Groupe Edmond de Rothschild MOD70 become even exciting on Friday, during the first inshore race? Simply, add a fresher breeze that topped 20 knots and boat speed that reached 30 knots. Although we have always been less than enthusiastic about multihulls and their ability to provide close racing, the four MOD70′s in Valencia seem to prove us wrong.

The starts are simply thrilling and being onboard, seeing them a few meters apart hitting the starting line at 25 knots of boat speed is a unique experience. We were onboard Groupe Edmond de Rothschild MOD70, skippered by Sébastien Josse, in the first race. Josse and his crew nailed the start, clearly ahead of the other three boats, despite a near miss and crash with a photographer boat. Gitana XV rushed to the first reaching mark, rounded in the lead and opted for the left-hand side of the course. Her three opponents went to the right and by the end of the first upwind leg, Gitana XV found herself rounding the mark in third place, having conceded leadership to Spindrift Racing.

Groupe Edmond de Rothschild and Spindrift engaged in a fierce battle in the first run but Josse was unable to take the lead. Spindrift won the race and Gitana XV took second place.

Onboard Edmond de Rothschild MOD70 during Friday’s first inshore race. Valencia, 7 June 2013. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / www.vsail.info

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Tags: Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda

Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta Underway

Posted on 06 June 2013 by Valencia Sailing

[Source: Yacht Club Costa Smeralda] The sun rose early on Wednesday morning to greet the 21 sailing superyachts taking part in the 2013 edition of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta. The regatta, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) with Boat International Media and hosted at the YCCS in Porto Cervo, marks the beginning of the Mediterranean regatta season.

The diverse fleet, ranging from the 24m Starck-styled Virtuelle and Hoek-designed Drumfire to 45m regatta regulars Salperton IV and Saudade, and 49.7m Zefira, were looking forward to racing getting underway in earnest. The fleet, which is racing under the International Super Yacht Rule (ISYR), covers a broad spectrum of superyachts, from modern classics to ocean thoroughbreds, sloops to yawls, and pure cruising yachts to those with a more performance orientated design. The 21 yachts have been divided into three equal cruising divisions – A to C – according to their ratings, and each yacht has three ratings that can be applied depending on the windspeed on the course.

After a brief postponement the breeze filled in to around eight knots, and the patience of the yacht owners and crews was rewarded as the race committee set three courses of roughly 29, 25 and 23 nautical miles for class A to C respectively. The three courses followed roughly the same track – a short beat to a laid mark, followed by a fetch to the Mortorio islands, then a long run to Monaci, a short dog leg to the south of Caprera and then home to the finish off Porto Cervo.

My Song – Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2013. Photo copyright Jeff Brown/Superyacht Media

By the time the fleet got to the famous Monaci rocks at the end of the run, Virtuelle had powered into the lead on the water, rounding the rocks and dowsing her spinnaker nearly six minutes ahead of the second yacht, 49.7m Zefira. The rest of the yachts came round in tight formation, making for a spectacular sight as the faster yachts such as 30.3m Southern Wind Cape Arrow began to haul in the slower yachts.

The 30.8m Oyster Sarafin snuck through to take line honours for Race One, closely followed by Bequia, Drumfire and the sleek 45m Baltic Yachts-built Visione. Of course, it is the corrected time that counts, and the provisional results showed that in Cruising Class A the 25.4m My Song – owned by Pier-Luigi Loro Piana – had won through; Virtuelle held on to take Class B on corrected, while Bequia took the win in Class C.

‘It looks like it’s going to be a light regatta,’ said Seamas Meharg, boat captain and safety officer of Bequia. ‘The lighter airs and flatter water are good for us, and today’s long downwind leg was also beneficial. We got a good start, and did well at the bottom rounding at Monaci – we ducked Zefira’s stern and managed to get inside her, staying close in to the rocks.’ Meharg will be hoping that the forecast light airs continue. ‘We’re keeping an eye on Drumfire,’ he continued, ‘and there might be a little more breeze tomorrow, but if we can hold on tomorrow we might be looking good…’

Visione – Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2013. Photo copyright Jeff Brown/Superyacht Media

For Zefira, today’s second place in Class B was a strong result – not least because she beat arch-rival Salperton by just 10 seconds on corrected time after an epic battle that played out round nearly the whole racecourse. ‘We tried hard,’ her delighted captain, Federico Biaturri, smiled on the dock. ‘We were a bit slow on one gybe and had to tack to avoid Visione near the end which allowed Salperton to sneak over the line ahead of us, but it was a great race and we’ve been getting better and better since the start of the Dubois Cup last weekend. The owners are very happy!’
The close-fought battle with Salperton is a fine demonstration of just how accurate the ISYR rating system is getting. ‘The handicaps are getting better and better all the time,’ Biaturri commented. ‘It shows in our battle with Salperton – it’s very close and it’s just going to get better and better from here.’

Racing continues tomorrow with the first start scheduled at 12:00 and scirocco winds of 10-12 knots forecast.

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Tags: Esimit Europa, Esimit Sailing Team, Igor Simčič, Kieler Woche

Esimit Europa 2 loaded on cargo ship, heads to Kieler Woche

Posted on 05 June 2013 by Valencia Sailing

Europe’s record-breaking monohull was loaded on Wednesdayon a cargo ship, heading from Valencia to Kiel. Esimit Europa 2 will embark on busy northern European season, starting at the Kieler Woche at the end of June. The Esimit Sailing Team will take part at 2 races and will move to Stockholm immediately after for the start of the most renowned Swedish regatta, the ÅF Offshore Race, on June 30th.

After this Swedish classic Esimit Europa 2 will be shipped to the United Kingdom for the start of the Cowes Week at the beginning of August, where she will be at the starting line of 3 inshore races and prepare for one of the toughest and most renowned European races, the famous Rolex Fastnet Race. After the Rolex Fastnet Race, Esimit Europa 2 will return to Mediterranean for 4 races in October. Starting with Bernetti Lombardini Cup and Barcolana in the Gulf of Trieste. On its way to Malta’s Rolex Middle Sea Race Esimit Europa 2 will try to break the course record (Medot Sailing Trophy).