The perfect plan: Le Renard wins Rolex FARR 40 World Championship 2002 |
18 In the end, it was all about the man and his boat rather than the place, but when the Farr 40 Class Association first decided to hold its Rolex-sponsored 2002 World Championship at Atlantis, it turned more than a few heads. The Bahamas resort, located on the aptly named Paradise Island, is a mind-boggling water theme playground that recreates the Lost City of Atlantis and provides the world's largest marine habitat, second only to Mother Nature, for more than 50,000 marine animals living in 34 acres of waterscape. The 25 Farr 40s that competed in the event were efficiently accommodated and welcomed by The Marina at Atlantis, and soon after they arrived for the MeesPierson Bahamian National Championship that preceded the Worlds, the highly pedigreed sailboats looked at home among the 200-foot megayachts surrounding them. Italy's Nerone, the Farr 40 European champion co-owned by Antonio Migliori and Massimo Mezzaroma, won the Bahamian Nationals and established itself as a favorite for the November 13-16 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship along with second-place finisher Defiant, skippered by Canada's Rolex Sailor of the Year Terry McLaughlin (Toronto). But it was Defiant that would go on to make headlines for most of the Worlds and Le Renard, skippered by Steve Phillips of Arnold, Md., that would prevail ultimately as the winner. Over four days of competition in poster-perfect sailing conditions, Phillips turned in single-digit finishes in all but one of 10 races, which proved the key to his success. "It was our strategy to stay in the top ten in every race," said Phillips, "because the teams here are tremendous. We took a 17th in the first race, but after that we sailed consistently and we stayed out of trouble." Phillips, the current Farr 40 East Coast champion, credited his tactician Mark Reynolds, a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and three-time Olympic medallist from San Diego, with keeping everyone on track to victory. "I'd hate to play poker with the guy, he stays so cool," said Phillips. "He doesn't let us get in difficult situations." Certainly it was a difficult situation or two that led to the downfall of Defiant, which, after two days and five races, had established its dominance with three first-place finishes and an impressive 22-point lead over Le Renard. In the protest room, two of Defiant's victories turned to disqualifications due to two separate starting line incidents. In race five, the Race Committee protested Flash Gordon, Helmut Jahn's Chicago entry, for fouling on the anchor line of its committee boat. A resulting chain of protests worked backward to Defiant, the alleged source of the problem. In race three, Crocodile Rock, owned by Alex Geremia and Scott Harris of Santa Barbara, Calif., successfully protested Defiant for barging at the start. "The fleet is very competitive," said Crocodile Rock's tactician Robbie Haines, an Olympic gold medallist from San Diego, Calif. "Consistency and staying out of trouble is the key here." With Defiant dropping out of the top 10, Crocodile Rock moved to second, while Le Renard moved to the top of the leader board. On day three, which served up light shifty winds instead of the more typical 20-25 knots, Le Renard maintained its lead with solid finishes, while Nerone crept up from sixth to second place ahead of Crocodile Rock. The combination of teams at the top, which now included Groovederci in fourth, would prove volatile on the last day of racing. Groovederci, skippered by the regatta's only woman skipper Deneen Demourkas of Montecito, Calif., along with Crocodile Rock and Nerone were all over early at the starting line in the last race of the series, and, in their battle back to earn respectable positions, encountered problems at a congested mark. Both Groovederci and Crocodile Rock were protested by Nerone. As a philosophy, "staying out of trouble" failed Crocodile Rock when the jury saw fit to throw the team out of the race, dropping it from a would-be third to fifth overall. Groovederci was propelled to second place, and Samba Pa Ti, the Farr 40 U.S. National champion and 1999 Worlds winner, skippered by John Kilroy of Los Angeles, Calif., moved up to third. Nerone, for all its persistence, snagged fourth. In the end, however, it was all about one man and his boat. Steve Phillips had stayed true to a promise among crewmembers to "keep it clean" at this regatta. Having bought Le Renard only last summer, he was truly the dark horse. He sailed to a 22-point lead over a fleet that not only represented eight nations but also brimmed with Rolex Yachtsmen of the Year, Olympic Medallists, and veterans of the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Races. He had avoided wild fluctuations of point scores due to protests. He went home with the World Cup, the 2002 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship title and a coveted Rolex timepiece, awarded to him as the top skipper during a standing ovation at the Rolex Awards Party. "It's an awesome feeling," said Phillips, with a respectful nod to the other 24 owners who, by class rules, must drive their own boats and may not be classified as professional sailors. "There was such tremendous talent here." As for the location of Atlantis, there may never be another so mismatched with a sailing regatta but at the same time so spectacular … and surprisingly perfect. Race Day Sponsors were Lewmar, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, North Sails and Rolex. They were joined by supporting sponsors Protector Boats, Carroll Marine and Farr International. For more information visit www.farr40.org. Place, Boat Name, Skipper, Hometown, Home Country, Finish Positions, Total Score
1. LE RENARD, Steve Phillips, Arnold, Md., USA, 17-2-1-7-9-3-4-9-1-8, 61 |
Worlds: Maryland Sailor Steve Phillips Steers Le Renard to Victory |
16 Steve Phillips of Arnold, Md., has steered Le Renard to win the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, which concluded today at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas. Over four days of competition in poster-perfect sailing conditions, Phillips turned in single-digit finishes in all but one of ten races, which proved the key to his success. "It was our strategy to stay in the top ten in every race," said Phillips, "because the teams here are tremendous an it's very competitive. We took a 17th in the first race, but after that we sailed consistently and we stayed out of trouble." Phillips, the current Farr 40 East Coast champion, credited his tactician Mark Reynolds, a three-time Olympic medallist from San Diego, with keeping everyone on track to victory. "I'd hate to play poker with the guy, he stays so cool," said Phillips. "He doesn't let us get in difficult situations." Phillips finished with 61 points overall and a 22-point lead over second-place finisher Groovederci, skippered by the regatta's only woman skipper Deneen Demourkas of Montecito, Calif. Groovederci and would-be third-place finisher Crocodile Rock, skippered by Scott Harris of Santa Barbara, Calif., were over early in today's second race, and in their battle back to earn respectable positions encountered problems at a congested mark. Both boats were protested by Italy's Nerone, with Crocodile Rock losing the battle in the jury room to fall from third to fifth. As a result, Samba Pa Ti, skippered by John Kilroy of Los Angeles, Calif., moved up to third, with Nerone, skippered by Antonio Migliori (Rome) gaining a position as well and finishing fourth.
Place, Boat Name, Skipper, Hometown, Home Country, Finish Positions, Total Score
1. LE RENARD Steve Phillips, Arnold, Md., USA, 17-2-1-7-9-3-4-9-1-8, 61 |
Worlds: 2.nd day - Defiant's Second-Day Lead Under Protest, Le Renard Close on Heels |
15
It was another good day for Terry McLaughlin's Canadian team aboard Defiant,
but the evening could prove tough in the protest room. Defiant won the first
and third of three races on this second day of the Rolex Farr 40 World
Championships in Nassau. The team's two victories are threatened, however, by
two protests involving incidents at the start. In race three, the Race
Committee has protested Flash Gordon, Helmut Jahn's Chicago entry, for fouling
on the anchor line of its committee boat. A resulting chain of protests worked
backward to Defiant, the alleged source of the problem. In race one, Crocodile
Rock, owned by Alex Geremia and Scott Harris of Santa Barbara, Calif.,
protested Defiant for barging at the start. |
Worlds: 1.st day - Italian attack at Paradise Island... |
14
CANADA'S DEFIANT LEADS AFTER FIRST DAY AT ROLEX FARR 40 WORLDS
In a straightforward race that rewarded speed off the starting line, Canada's
Terry McLaughlin (Toronto) sailed Defiant to victory in today's opening race
at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships, sailed off Paradise Island, Bahamas,
and headquartered at Atlantis Resort. McLaughlin led the intense 25-boat fleet
by 20 seconds at the first windward mark and was still holding the same lead
after two laps around an eight-mile course. A second race seemed to be going
Defiant's way again, with McLaughlin leading at the first two marks, until a
rainstorm packing 20-knot breezes rolled in like a freight train to disrupt
his performance.
(end)
1. DEFIANT Terry McLaughlin Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 1-4, 5 |
Paradise Island: Vincenzo Onorato Rushes to Rolex Farr 40 World Championship |
11
Just eliminated from the challenger races for the America’s Cup, Italy’s
Vincenzo Onorato has made a beeline to Paradise Island in the Bahamas, where
the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship begins next Wednesday, Nov. 13. The
four-day event, staged at the Atlantis resort, will be hosting the strongest
group of sailors north of the Hauraki Gulf and is to be preceded this weekend
by the MeesPierson Bahamian Championship at which all but a few in the now
25-boat Rolex fleet will compete. Onorato is bringing with him four of his
America’s Cup crewmen to sail as part of team Mascalzone Latino, the same name
given to his America’s Cup campaign.
Racing for the fifth annual Rolex Farr 40 World Championship will take place
on the crystal blue waters off the coast of Nassau. Sailors will be racing for
the World Cup, which is a beautiful Boda crystal trophy. A Rolex timepiece
goes to the winning skipper. |
Paradise Island: The European Champion Nerone wins the Bahamians |
10 It was anybody's game today going into the final races of the MeesPierson Bahamian Regatta, but Italy's Nerone, with owner Antonio Migliori (Rome) at the helm, posted finishes of 1-3 to win the two-day, five-race series hands down. Nerone edged out yesterday's leader Defiant, skippered by Terry McLaughlin of Toronto, Canada, by three points in overall scoring and sent a clear message that the Italians mean business here in the Bahamas. It will be on these same waters off Paradise Island that this week's Rolex Farr 40 World Championship will host the same fleet in expected similar light-air conditions. Three Italian teams are among 24 from eight countries tuning up for the Worlds. "We spent 10 days in Miami speed testing in light winds," said Migliori, who is the current Farr 40 European champion, "so the boat is set up for light air and this is good." Asked if these were preferred conditions for his team, Migliori laughed, pointing out that his European title was won in winds of 30 knots. "With 24 boats at this level, it is hard in any wind," said Migliori, who says that along with Defiant he will be watching most closely Pegasus, with Philippe Kahn of Honolulu, Hawaii, at the helm, and Samba Pa Ti, with John Kilroy of Los Angeles, Calif. driving. Samba Pa Ti finished third overall with Pegasus finishing sixth even after winning two races yesterday. Defiant won today's second race but finished 13th in the first, which was clearly the team's downfall. As the winner of the MeesPierson Farr 40 Bahamian Championship, Migliori will be awarded The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Cup trophy. It has been dedicated by the Nassau Yacht Club as a perpetual trophy and will remain on display in Nassau. Trophies for the regatta will be presented at the Bahamian Government House on November 12, in conjunction with the Opening Ceremony for the World Championship. Title sponsor of the event, MeesPierson (Bahamas) Ltd. is a Dutch based financial services and wealth management company with a strong tradition in maritime connections. It is one of Nassau's larger, fully integrated Private Bank & Trust Companies, providing not only the standard private banking menu of services but specialty services as well, such as yacht and aircraft registry and finance. As a member of MeesPierson's (established 1720) "Private Wealth Management" group, they are part of more than 30 continental European offices as well as international offices in Bermuda, Curacao, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, London and Singapore. MeesPierson is, in turn, an important part of Fortis' 70,000 person Global Financial Collective. Fortis wholly owns MeesPierson N.V. (100%shareholder of MP Bahamas Ltd.) and is now ranked by Forbes magazine in its "World Super 50" as one of the world's largest companies with assets approaching $500billion. |
Porto Cervo ITA 29/07/02 – Sardinia Cup: Breakin' Real rumors from Spain...
The news is still secret but every thing seems to be ok.
We'll have a special Euro team composed by H.M. Don Juan Carlos de Espana and the "terminator" of the F40 fleet Mr. George Andreadis from Greece.
It's a wonderful team with Bribon, on of the most performing IMS at the moment and Atalanti, the F40 that really dominated the first part of the Med Circuit...
The show is already "on air"...don't miss it !
Porto Cervo ITA 18/07/02 – Sardinia Cup: Here you have the first italian team....
Tutto sembra confermato e dalle indiscrezioni di banchina, il primo team italiano è già stato formato.
Si tratta, come previsto dalla formula della Sardinia Cup, di un Farr40 e di un IMS 600 ed entrando nel dettaglio e scoprendo gli ultimi veli, la squadra dovrebbe essere composta dal Farr40 Silphea del Presidente della flotta mediterranea Alberto Signorini e dal Gran Soleil 44 Giacomelli Sport portato da Gabriele Benussi, che è stato il tattico di Signorini per tutta la vittoriosa stagione del Farr40.
Ora, resta da capire chi prenderà il posto di Benussi a fianco di Signorini alle scelte tattiche e... a meno di clamorosi colpi di scena dell'ultimo momento sembra proprio certo che il pozzetto del Farr40 italiano sarà arricchito dalla presenza di una vecchia conoscenza dei velisti (e non) italiani. Si tratta probabilmente del più famoso "velista adottivo italiano"....non ci siete ancora ? Beh, allora fate un balzo indietro di 10 anni con la memoria e ricordatevi di un contadino condottiero di nome Raul che ebbe l'ardore di sfidare i mostri sacri dello yachting mondiale tentando di strappar loro la magica "brocca d'argento" e finì con la prima vittoria italiana alla Louis Vuitton Cup...see yah soon !
Porto Cervo ITA
The final race of the Farr 40 European Championship was sailed on the race course just outside the entrance to Porto Cervo in a shifty, moderate wind range of 8-15 knots from the northwest. It offered a new challenge for those who had grown accustomed to the heavy air and currents in the bay. A longer five - leg course was signalled. There were several lead changes during the race, typical of the close compeititon in this fleet, and the lighter conditions mixed up the standings throughout the fleet.
Massimo Mezzaroma's Nerone had a great start and sailed fast and smart, covering their closest competitors. They followed Bruno Tronchetti Provera's Shear Terror around the track, and overtook them on the final leg to take line honors, followed by Shear Terror, then Nela. The Nerone crew jumped up in celebration when crossing the finish, knowing that their victory on the race course put them at the top of the podium for the regatta.
Struntje Light finished sixth for the race, tying for points with Nela for second overall but Struntje having more first place finishes took second on the countback. Struntje Light didn't get off the starting line in the best position for the final race but recovered with good boat speed.
Michael Illbruck, owner driver of Nela, took a podium finish in his first major Farr 40 regatta (his first Farr 40 regatta was the Porto Rotundo event last week). In his first major regatta as a competitor since the 1987 Admiral's Cup, Illbruck is impressed with the level of competition and organization in the Farr 40 class. ""It's wonderful to be racing in this class. The organization is very good. It's competitive, there's lots of changes in the fleet ... it's fantastic."
The 2003 European Championship venue will be announced soon. The schedule will be posted on the Mediterranean Farr 40 fleet website at www.farr40.it
North Sails is a Farr 40 Class sponsor and a world class supplier of One Design sails.
Final results:
boat |
owner |
tactician |
points |
total |
Nerone |
M. Mezzaroma |
V. Vascotto |
10, 1, 3, 2, 4, 8, 1, 2, 1 |
32 |
Struntje Light |
W. Schaefer |
I. Percy |
3, 3, 1, 7, 3, 1, 11, 1, 6 |
36 |
Nela |
M. Illbruck |
J. Kostecki |
8, 2, 7, 1, 2, 5, 4, 4, 3 |
36 |
Sylphea |
A. Signorini |
G. Benussi |
2, 11, 6, 3, 1, 6, 5, 3, 15 |
52 |
Atalanti |
G. Andreadis |
R. Haines |
1, 7, 9, 10, 7, 15, 2, 14, 4 |
69 |
Porto Cervo ITA
The third day of racing in the Settimana delle Bocche Farr 40 European Championship was a continuation of the breezy mistral conditions and extremely close racing that has characterized this series. Three windward leeward courses were run in the bay in 19-25 knots of warm wind blowing over the island of Sardinia.
The left side of the inshore course was typically favored today, similar to yesterday's racing. Race 8 of the regatta, which was the last race of the day, had two general recalls before the overanxious boats got off the start line and on their way up the first leg. Wolfgang Schaefer's German entry Struntje Light is precariously holding their lead at the end of racing today, with an eleventh place finish sandwiched between two firsts. It is a cliffhanger of a day, with only seven points between the top four boats, and one race remaining in the event. Competition is sure to promise a spectacle tomorrow between Struntje Light, Nerone, Nela and Sylphea. Any one of them could claim the European Champion title, that will be awarded at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's newly re-opened Piazza Azzura on Saturday afternoon.
Racing concludes tomorrow with one race planned. The forecast is for lighter wind, which should challenge the sailors who have enjoyed a breezy series. They will need to change gears and rig tuning to get the most from their boats and the best of the competitors.
North Sails is a Farr 40 Class sponsor and a world class supplier of One Design sails.
Provisional results:
boat |
owner |
tactician |
points |
total |
Struntje Light |
W. Schaefer |
I. Percy |
3, 3, 1, 7, 3, 1, 11, 1 |
30 |
Nerone |
M. Mezzaroma |
V. Vascotto |
10, 1, 3, 2, 4, 8, 1, 2 |
31 |
Nela |
M. Illbruck |
J. Kostecki |
8, 2, 7, 1, 2, 5, 4, 4 |
33 |
Sylphea |
A. Signorini |
G. Benussi |
2, 11, 6, 3, 1, 6, 5, 3 |
37 |
Atalanti |
G. Andreadis |
R. Haines |
1, 7, 9, 10, 7, 15, 2, 14 |
65 |
Porto Cervo ITA
A mistral wind continued to
blow on the second day of Farr 40 racing off the Costa Smeralda. It was
slightly more wind than yesterday, with 22-31 knots reported. Two windward
leeward courses were set inside the protected waters of the bay. The regatta leaders
all started at the pin to head for the left side of the course, where there
were smaller waves and less current. Two boats tried out the right side on the
first beat, but the boats on the left came out ahead, led by Nerone and Nela,
then Sylphea. Those three put distance on the fleet during the run. The entire
pack of 17 boats went up the favored left side of the next beat. There was a
close battle between Nerone and Nela for line honors, and the lead changed
several times with Nela emerging as the victor, surfing just a half boat length
ahead. Madina and A Bit of a Coup surfed over the line with Madina barely a
second ahead in fifth place in a classic photo finish.
The wind increased to the higher end of the range for the second race, and
shifted to the left. There was a big puff across the start line during the
sequence, but it was a clean start, and the tightly knit pack of boats headed
off to the left side of the course. The German boats led around the top mark,
Nela in first followed by Struntje Light. They had a fantastic ride downwind
planing on the waves at 17-21 knots of boat speed. Their bow waves were white
plumes of spray as they flew to the leeward mark. Nela and Struntje Light split
at the gate, and Slyphea edged into second place on the beat. It was another
wild ride down to the finish on a course flecked with whitecaps. Struntje
Light's 7 and 3rd place finishes were enough to keep them in the lead, but they
only have a three point margin on countrymates aboard Nela.
Racing for the European Championship continues tomorrow with three races
planned. Class sponsor North Sails is providing daily weather service and is
hosting an owners dinner at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda this evening. North
Sails is a world class supplier of One Design sails.
Provisional results:
boat |
owner |
tactician |
points |
total |
Struntje
Light |
W.
Schaefer |
I. Percy |
3, 3, 1,
7, 3 |
17 |
Nela |
M.
Illbruck |
J.
Kostecki |
8, 2, 7,
1, 2 |
20 |
Nerone |
M.
Mezzaroma |
V.
Vascotto |
10, 1, 3,
2, 4 |
20 |
Sylphea |
A.
Signorini |
G.
Benussi |
2, 11, 6,
3, 1 |
23 |
Atalanti |
G.
Andreadis |
R. Haines |
1, 7, 9,
10, 7 |
34 |
Porto Cervo ITA
The first day of racing at
the Farr 40 European Championship Settimana della Bocche(Week of the Straights)
offered absolutely perfect sailing conditions for the seventeen yachts entered.
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda ran three windward leeward courses around the
corner to the west of Porto Cervo in a protected bay. The wind was a constant
20-25 knots from 275-290 degrees in bright sunshine on flat water off the Costa
Smeralda.
There was some current going
downwind, which made for some very interesting weather mark roundings. According
to Chris Larson, the tactician on John Coumantaros' Bambakou, there were
"some mysterious headers that came about 200' from the weather mark"
that also added to the excitement at the top of the course. Boats were
extremely close after the long weather legs, and the traffic on the starboard
layline was heavy. There were a few port tack boats that sailed well up the
course, but had to duck almost the entire fleet to get to their destination.
Wolfgang and Angela
Schaefer's German entry Struntje Light emerged as the overall winner at the end
of the day, with three podium finishes. Crossing the line in first place was a
great end to their first day. Olympic sailor Iain Percy is their tactician for
this regatta.
The Italian boat owned by
Massimo Mezzaroma and Antonio sodo Migliori were also consistent in the breeze.
They are well practiced, having just won the final event of the Mediterranean
Championship in Porto Rotundo last week. Racing was extremely close with three
different winners of the individual races. George Andreadis' Greek entry
Atalanti took the first victory of the day, and finished behind Nerone in the
provisional overall standings.
This summer is the first
season that the Farr 40 Class is racing in the
Racing continues tomorrow
with two races planned, and will conclude on Saturday.
North Sails is the Class
sponsor for this regatta, and are providing a daily weather service and hosting
an owners' dinner at the newly refurbished Yacht Club Costa Smeralda following
their annual owners' meeting tomorrow evening.
Provisional results:
boat |
owner |
tactician |
points |
total |
Struntje
Light |
W.
Schaefer |
I. Percy |
3, 3, 1 |
7 |
Nerone |
M.
Mezzaroma |
V.
Vascotto |
10, 1, 3 |
14 |
Atalanti |
G.
Andreadis |
R. Haines |
1, 7, 9 |
17 |
Nela |
M.
Illbruck |
J.
Kostecki |
8, 2, 7 |
17 |
A Bit of
a Coup |
T.
Buckingham |
K.
Sproule |
12, 5, 2 |
19 |