Copa del Rey - Day 1: Siemens wins first race, Cristabella second

As ever in the very evenly matched white hot 20 boat TP52 fleet, starting in the front rank proved critical. A solid midline start from Siemens, which has Ian Walker steering and 1996 Star Gold medallist Vince Brun, sailing his first TP52 regatta, on tactics ensured the black hulled Reichel Pugh design was one of the first to profit as the left side of the course paid. Brun kept them working the left and they followed Cristabella in second around the first weather marks.

With the breeze over the Bay of Palma at a modest 6-9 knots for most of what proved to be the only race of the day, Siemens rounded the right hand gate mark at the leeward turn, quickly benefiting from a favourable windshift which was proved a passport to a lead of one and a half minutes at the final weather buoy.

While Eamon Coneelly’s Siemens ran out a comfortable winner, Cook’s Cristabella – with Dee Smith as tactician – finished second and the Roberto Bermudez de Castro skippered Caixa Galicia took third gun with five times Olympic medallist Torben Grael sailing as tactician. “ It was good start for Vince in his first ever TP52 race.” Smiled Walker, renewing a partnership which won the 1998 Melges World Championships along with trimmer Simon Fry,

“We have sailed together before so that makes it a little easier. We had a nice start, it wasn’t the best and some of it kind of fell for us after that. Vince went all the way to the left and that worked. And at the bottom of the second beat we came round with the wind all the way to the right and then that worked really well because we had a nice lane away from the spinnakers coming down, and then it just headed 25 degrees and it was all good from there. If only they were all that easy!”

“The second beat we just nailed the left and it was a soldier’s course once you were in front, a nice course to be leading on.” Observed Siemen’s trimmer and sail programme coordinator Fry of North Sails UK. “ There probably weren’t that many passing lanes after the first three or four minutes. We had a new superlight jib which was fine on the first beat and we have a new A 1.5 (spinnaker). It’s certainly nice to be leading overnight, we are happy.”

Siemens, winner of the first race of the 2006 Copa del Rey. Palma, 31 July 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

For Cristabella, which finished 16th at the Regata Breitling and never cracked a top five finish, a second is a useful start, but Brendan Darrer is not taking too much store from a single race: “It’s a nice way to start the regatta, but it is just one race. Dee did a good job and the whole team sailed well.” Commented boat captain and pit man Darrer.

“ It is a good start for us in a very important regatta that I want to do well in.” said Cristabella’s tactician Dee Smith, “ We had a good solid start and I just wanted to stay fast off the line and let’s get off to the left side from the line which was favoured right. There was one decision when Santa Ana came by on port tack and couldn’t quite cross and we waved them by. Maybe if they had forced us to tack then they might have been first to the weather mark.” “Tim (Powell) was driving downwind and John (Cook) steered the start and upwind and that seems to work well just now because John can stay very focused and Tim’s expertise downwind is valuable, driving on the Volvo (Ocean Race) and that is a good team right now.”

Part of the fleet downwind, with Siemens sporting their brand new spinnaker. Palma, 31 July 2006. Photo copyright: Richard Page

Torben Grael’s first serious race outing with Caixa Galicia proved a formidable one, finishing third: “We did a little sailing before the start and had worked out that the left was where we wanted to go. And that gave us a good cushion on the fleet.”

For series leaders Mutua Madrilena which has 2005 series winning Vasco Vascotto skipper back among the team, fourth place was is just the kind of foundations they were seeking, as navigator Wouter Verbraak observed:

“The forecasts we had were slightly conflicting and we did not want to be completely locked out if the right looked good, and so we decided to start safely in the middle of the start line. So we had a good start and found a nice lane quite quickly and at first the right did look quite good so we decided not to go too far left, and in the end we were quite happy to get round the weather mark in the top five because that was the main goal. And downwind it was very tricky because of the patchy wind, the seabreeze was not very well settled. But we learned from last week and the strategy of just going all the way to the layline which was good.”

Recalled Verbraak “Play conservative and keep the options open all the time. That is the important thing at this stage. Vasco helps us out with the general strategy, with opportunities and the general positioning, managing the fleet. But we leave it very much to Tom (Dodson) and Ray (Davies) to call the shots. And a top five finish is a good way to start any regatta.”

Artemis, ex-Bigamist VI, with Russell Coutts on the helm. Palma, 31 July 2006. Photo copyright: Jorge Andreu

Copa del Rey - Day 1: Siemens wins opening race

A good start from Siemens with good pace off the line and finding a good lane proved advantageous for the Ian WalkerAfterguard of +39 Challenge


Click for more info skippered boat. With Vince Brun calling tactics they played the left of the course on the first beat and, although not extreme on their choices, they had a good approach at the weather mark. On the second beat Siemens managed to get ahead of Cristabella by taking advantage of a windshift and from that point they were able to extend their lead.

Cristabella also had a good start about halfway up the start line. The boat's owner and driver John Cook also managed a good lane which allowed them to get to the left of the course and take the early advantage. Santa Ana looked strong at the start and took the most extreme course but sadly this did not pay dividends and they finished ninth overall.

Siemens, winner of the first race of the 2006 Copa del Rey. Palma, 31 July 2006. Photo copyright: Richard Page

The Copa del Rey starts on Monday with numerous America's Cup sailors

Among the TP 52 high quality fleet with 20 units competing at the 25th Copa del Rey Trofeo Agua Brava - Camper, there are some remarkable America's Cup names. The majority of syndicates have decided to compete at the regatta organised by Real Club Náutico de Palma during the short break of the America's Cup acts.

A good example of America's Cup presence in Palma is Warpath, with the main representatives of Emirates Team New Zealand, Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info at the helm, Terry HutchinsonAfterguard of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Kevin HallNavigator of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Don CowieTrimmer of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Matthew MasonMastman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Jeremy LomasBowman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info and Grant LoretzTrimmer of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info. Barker will have the chance to face Russell Coutts, who sails on board Artemis; although he does not participate in the Valencia edition, Coutts has three America's Cup titles.

Furthermore, Mutua Madrileña, winner of the Breitling MedCup, has another group of members of the New Zealand team on board, such as Ray DaviesAfterguard of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Joe Allen, Stuart BettanyBowman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, Tony Rae, Jonathan MacbethGrinder of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info and Tom Dodson. In this team, Peter de Ridder at the helm is joined by Italian sailor Vasco Vascotto, the helm of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. South Africa's Shosholoza is represented by its general manager, Dee Smith, who sails on board Cristabella, and its helmsman, Italian sailor Tomasso Chieffi, with the task of tactician on board US boat Rush.

On the other hand, the helmsman of Siemens will be Ian WalkerAfterguard of +39 Challenge


Click for more info, the helm of +39 Challenge, together with Italian sailor Bruno ZirilliNavigator of +39 Challenge


Click for more info as navigator, also a member of the Italian challenge. Caixa Galicia will have a luxury team on board with Robert Hopkins (Luna Rossa) and sailors from Valencia Nacho BraquehaisMain Trimmer of Luna Rossa Challenge

Click for more info (also member of Luna Rossa) and Juan Messeguer (BMW Oracle).

John Coumantaros's Bambakou has among its crew members Argentinean Olympic Tornado class bronze medallist Santiago LangeTraveller of Victory Challenge

Click for more info, who is also part of the Swedish team Victory Challenge, and Spanish Challenge sailor Pablo Cadario. The Orlanda crew is formed by members from Luna Rossa, such as tactician Francesco BruniAfterguard of Luna Rossa Challenge

Click for more info, Paolo BassaniBowman of Luna Rossa Challenge

Click for more info, Massimo GherarducciGrinder of Luna Rossa Challenge

Click for more info, Daniele BrescianoGrinder of Luna Rossa Challenge

Click for more info and Stefano Gerardo.

The representation of the current winner of the America's Cup, the Swiss Alinghi, is found in Mallorca sailor Jordi Calafat, who will sail on board Lexus, while the members of the no longer active GBR Challenge, with Adrian Stead at the lead, will sail on board Santa Ana.

From the Volvo to the MedCup

The best sailors of the Volvo Ocean Race did not want to miss either this opportunity to be present at the silver anniversary of the Copa del Rey Trofeo Agua Brava - Camper. In this way, TP 52 Bribón will count on the strategy of Bouwe Bekking, Movistar's skipper at the Volvo, with sailor from Alicante Pepe Ribes and Dutch sailor Marcel Von Triest, navigator on board Brazil 1, third in the ocean race. Brazilian sailor Torben Grael also comes from this team and with five Olympic medals he will be part of Roberto Bermudez's Caixa Galicia team as tactician; in fact, both coincided on board Brazil 1.

From the Spanish team at the Volvo Ocean Race we also find Stuart Bannatyne, Mike Howard and Mike Joubert that are sailing on board Bambakou. John Kostecki's Ericsson team will compete on board Pinta, and Tim Powell on board Cristabella. Furthermore, Dirk De Ridder, member of Pirates of the Caribbean, will join Mutua Madrileña. The helm of this Volvo 70, and one of the great worldwide sailors, Paul Cayard, will also sail at the Copa del Rey, on board Lexus.

Valencia Sailing goes for a swim

From today, Wednesday 26 July till next Saturday, 29 July, Valencia Sailing goes for a swim, together with the rest of tens of millions of tourists in Spain's beaches. Unless something extraordinary takes place in Valencia, there will probably be no updates.

The break will be short as from Sunday, 30 July, the sailing action in the Mediterranean sea will once again return to the island of Mallorca for the Copa del Rey. Valencia Sailing will be reporting from Palma beginning Tuesday, 1 August, for the fourth event of the 2006 Breitling MedCup. All of the 21 TP52's of the Med fleet will be racing, promising great action.

The Malvarosa beach in Valencia with thousands of locals and tourists trying to escape from the heat. As a result of the heat, the seabreeze has been excellent in the last two weeks and all teams train non-stop.

Alinghi's new black mainsail

A few minutes before ITA-90 passed in front of us, we got the opportunity to get a good view of Alinghi's new black mainsail. According to Bob from the excellent website Cupinfo, from first glance it appears the genoa is standard fare, but that black main may have very high carbon content. In addition, no loadpath "strings" are visible at all in the sail (supposing they are there, but hidden by the depth of color).

There are many wrinkles, which might be removed / reduced through various controls (vang, cunningham, outhaul, etc.). The overall shape is very fine, a distinct blade. Look at the flat top down the luff (edge at mast) and moreso the leech (trailing edge). That shape is as good or better than those of Emirates Team New Zealand (who I feel had the best main sails for well over a year now).

North Sails has a few new materials that are said to be improvements on their 3DL string technology (which was state of the art not so long ago). Most probably that's something pretty new and unusual.

Alinghi's boat with her mainsail hoisted inside the canal. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's boat with her mainsail hoisted inside the canal. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's boat sailing off to join SUI-64. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's boat sailing off to join SUI-64. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-90 is back on water

ITA-90, the brand new boat of the Italian America's Cup challenger Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team is back on the waters of Valencia. Since a couple of days Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team has been carrying out test sails with their new boat, but since yeasterday Monday, ITA-90 is facing Team Shosholoza's RSA-83 in training races.

According to the team, from tomorrow Wednesday, similar to what most teams have been doing for quite some time, Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team will be training with both their boats, ITA-77 and ITA-90.

ITA-90 being towed inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-90 being towed inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-90 being towed inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Closeup of the bow of ITA-90. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-90 being towed out of the canal. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ITA-90 being towed out of the canal. Valencia, 25 July 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

T-Systems youth exchange program starts in Valencia

Last year T-Systems initiated a Youth Exchange Program between young sailors from South Africa and Germany in cooperation with Team Shosholoza, the MSC Izivunguvungu Foundation of Cape Town, the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) and the North German Sailing Association (NRV).

This year’s Youth Exchange Program is taking place in Valencia, kicking off this morning and lasting till next Sunday, 30 July. Nine young sailors from South Africa have travelled to Valencia, joining German and Spanish youths to talk, sail and have fun together during the whole week.

Today's inaugural day started with a base tour given by Ian Ainslie, helmsman of Team Shosholoza, where dozens of South African, German and Valencian kids had the unique priviledge to get a hands-on view of an America's Cup team base. After the tour, all kids gave a hand and loaded on RSA-83, the mainsail as well as the three spinnakers needed for the day's training session of Shosholoza.

Ainslie plays a pivotal role in the South African America's Cup Challenge in his capacity as director of the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth sail training school in Simonstown. After moving to Cape Town to teach at a local school in 2001, he founded the Izivunguvungu sailing school that grew into a full-time academy after MSC decided to fund it since 2003. A number of top local South African sailors have graduated from the school, all of them coming from poor and underpriviledged communities.

Four full-time crew members of Team Shosholoza learnt to sail thanks to Izivunguvungu. Marcello Burricks was one of its most talented students, while grinder Moctar Fall, bowman Golden Mgedeza and pitman Solomon Dipeere were at one stage students of the academy.

Ian Ainslie giving a tour of the base. Valencia, 24 July 2006. Photo taken by Pierre Orphanidis

Everybody gives a hand to lift the mainsail. Valencia, 24 July 2006. Photo taken by Pierre Orphanidis

At that precise moment kids realized how heavy an America's Cup mainsail is. Valencia, 24 July 2006. Photo taken by Pierre Orphanidis

Kids carrying one of the three spinnakers. Valencia, 24 July 2006. Photo taken by Pierre Orphanidis

German and Valencian kids testing a section of the mast. Valencia, 24 July 2006. Photo taken by Pierre Orphanidis

Checking the hull's raw materials. Valencia, 24 July 2006. Photo taken by Pierre Orphanidis

Ian Ainslie and the South African children. Valencia, 24 July 2006. Photo taken by Pierre Orphanidis

GER-89, the first ever German-built America's Cup yacht, is in Valencia

The first ever German-built America's Cup yacht is already in Valencia. GER-89, the brand new boat of United Internet Team Germany, arrived on Saturday in the German team's base. The shore crew will immediately start working on her and if all goes accorind to schedule, the first sailing tests will be carried out in the second week of August.

Her sister ship GER-72 has been shipped back to Germany where she is taking part in a country tour and will race early August in Kiel. After that she will return to Valencia and the German team will start an intensive two-boat training program.

For obvious secrecy reasons we were allowed to shoot only one picture of the boat's bow.

From right to left, Jesper Bank, Jan Schoepe, Nico Jeschonnek and Mike Mottl in front of the bow of GER-89 inside the United Internet Team Germany base. Valencia, 24 July 2006. Photo taken by Pierre Orphanidis

Mututa Madrileña wins Breitling Regatta and secures top spot of Breitling MedCup

Second place was more than enough to clinch the Breitling Trophy for a delighted Peter de Ridder and the crew of Mean Machine-Mutua Madrilena today in Puerto Portals Mallorca.

The Dutch skipper, resident in Monaco, and his mainly Emirates Team New Zealand crew not only won the top award for this demanding eight race regatta which has run at an almost unrelenting pace, but now also head the overall standings on the season long Breitling MedCup standings.

As top Corinthian helm for the third successive regatta, but this time de Ridder kept the top America’s Cup skippers and Olympic medal winning helms like Russell Coutts, Dean Barker and Ian Walker behind him.

Mutua Madrileña, winner of the Breitling Regatta. Puerto Portals, 23 July 2006. Photo copyright: Jorge Andreu

And for the third Breitling MedCup regatta in a row, the final day was the trickiest. With a persistent easterly gradient breeze conflicting with the more southerly sea breeze, the net effect was unsettled, challenging wind which puffed up to 11 knots and fell as often to just 6 knots, changing direction by up to 30 degrees.

Three different boats have now won each different Breitling MedCup regatta.

Steve and Fred Howe’s Warpath, steered by Dean Barker, scored their a second back to back win since damage in race six forced their retirement. Even carrying the weighty ballast of a 22nd for their retirement, Warpath still finished second overall, while the Russell Coutts steered Lexus of Jaime Yllera and George Andreadis finished third, marking their first podium finish of the season so far.

“It is very nice to be the amateur driver winning here, up against the big guys. I think that is important for the other owner-drivers to see that if your boat is in order and you have good team around then, you as the driver, are just one of the fifteen guys and if you do your job normally you can hang in there and be competitive. For me it definitely helps doing a lot of Farr 40 sailing because that is a very competitive fleet doing many competitive mark roundings and mixed starts,” commented de Ridder.

Warpath, ranked second in the Breitling Regatta. Puerto Portals, 23 July 2006. Photo copyright: Jorge Andreu

With just a week of recuperation – or returning to the ‘day jobs’ in the case of the America’s Cup sailors who form the backbone of many crews – before the next event, Palma’s Copa del Rey regatta on the same waters, De Ridder comments:

“That will be another big challenge. And I am sure there will be another difficult day like today where the gradient breeze is fighting the sea breeze and there are a lot of holes in the wind but we will start that regatta fresh minded. But we are confident we have speed, our sail trimmers are good and work hard. I think our team is very good and is a good example of 1 plus 1 making much more than two.”

“We started well with two seconds and a first, but the team has sailed extremely well all week under a lot of pressure. We had a couple of good helmsmen right behind us in Dean Barker and Russell Coutts, so Peter sailed extremely well and the whole crew did. It was an extremely difficult day and it would have been to get stressed out, but we managed to keep calm through the whole race.” Explained Ray Davies, Mutua Madrilena’s tactician. “The difference this time is that we have been more consistent. We always knew we had potential. We just tried to sail a little more conservatively this regatta

Quarters underway at Portugal Match Cup

(Source: World Match Racing Tour) Three crews advanced to the Semifinal Round of the Portugal Match Cup, Stage 1 of the 2006-’07 World Match Racing Tour, after three of four matches in the quarterfinals were completed.

Chris Dickson (NZL), BMW Oracle Racing, who’s posted a 7-1 record, will square off against Peter Gilmour (AUS), PST, the three-time reigning World Tour champion.

The other half of the semis will see Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN), Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team, last year’s fourth-placed team, against the winner of Match 4, which pits Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge, against Chris Law (GBR), The Outlaws.

Law and Mathieu Richard (FRA), Saba Sailing Team, finished first and second in the Repechage Round, and joined in the quarterfinals six crews who advanced after the initial round robin.

The afternoon breeze was up today on the Bay of Cascais, blowing 12 to 15 knots from the north, off the city front. The 3rd annual Portugal Match Cup has 12 teams competing for a $100,000 prize, with $30,000 earmarked for the champion.

The quaterfinals, a first to 2 points knockout round, started in the early evening as the sun set over Cascais. The first match saw Dickson, who won Group A at 5-0, taking on Richard, the qualifier from the repechage. In close racing, particularly the second flight, Dickson won 2-1.

Peter Gilmour (AUS), PST, appears to have regained his form, and eliminated Staffan Lindberg (FIN), Alandia Sailing Team, in two straight. After starting the regatta 1-2, the World champion has won four straight to help setup the match with Dickson.

Gram-Hansen won the first flight against Thierry Peponnet (FRA), Areva Challenge. Peponnet bounced back to even the score, but Gram-Hansen came through in the decider.

Gram-Hansen will square off against the winner of Match 4, between Holmberg, winner of Group B, and Law, the repechage winner. The semis are knockout matches of first to 3 points.

Law and Richard advanced from the repechage after winning their two remaining races earlier in the day. Ian Williams (GBR), Williams Sail Racing, lost an opportunity to advance when he lost to Law in the final match of the round.

Yet another excellent performance by Mutua Madrileña; Warpath's bow damaged

After another three race day the pace at the Breitling Regatta in the Bay of Palma remains relentless, but Peter de Ridder and the crew of Mutua Madrilena have dealt best with the pressures and have built a commanding 18 points overall lead. 



Unfortunate damage to their nearest rival, Warpath, required them to pull out of the third race of the day when they damaged their bow in an incident with the German boat Platoon. After five races Warpath were just one point behind Mutua Madilena but on the first leg of Race 6 when they were ducking Platoon, Warpath struck them a glancing blow. Retiral means a costly 22 points and Warpath now lie fourth overall. “It is heartbreaking because we had a great day going.” Confirmed Warpath’s coach Ed Reynolds, "We had no choice but to come in. There was water coming into the boat and it was not going to get any better. We are pretty confident we will be back on the water tomorrow."

Mutua Madrileña, leader of the Breitling Regatta after the second day of races. Puerto Portals, 21 July 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

A third place and a victory in final race of the day sandwiched a 13th proving that Mutua Madrilena did not have an easy ride today. At the second start of the day they were pressed over the start line early by Balearia and had to gybe back round to restart. Having chosen the right hand end of the line, gambling that they would have the pace to cross to the favoured left of the course. Mutua Madrilena rounded the first mark 16th. But they made amends with a perfect peach of a start in the final race, hitting the pin end of the start line with speed and space. They lead from the first turn for a comfortable win.

“It is pleasing to be where we are now. Let us just say that from now on we will not be venturing into the ‘forbidden zones’ on the start lines and trying to sail a little bit conservatively. It was a fun day though. We had good speed upwind and were smoking downwind.” Said De Ridder.

Pinta, third in the Breitling Regatta after the second day of races. Puerto Portals, 21 July 2006. Photo copyright: Jorge Andreu

Michael Illbruck’s Pinta atoned for a deeply disappointing 20th in the day’s first race, when they were one of five boats over the start line which had to restart. 
With the breeze building to 17 knots in the second race Pinta pipped John Coumantaros Bambakou on the finish line to win by three seconds. Pinta took fifth in the third race and lie third overall behind Lexus.

“Overall we could have been better today but our speed is very good and our crew work is good. Our biggest issues are getting off the start line with speed. We tend to be setting up too early and ending up too slow. If you don’t accelerate off the line in this fleet you get nowhere.” Explained Pinta’s tactician John Kostecki.

Siemens at the second day of races of the Breitling Regatta. Puerto Portals, 21 July 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

Lexus may have settled into a run of better form. With Russell Coutts now taking over the steering himself and Gavin Brady and local ace Jordi Calafat combining on tactics Lexus won the first race of the day. Rather than cover Mutua Madrilena mid way up the second beat they broke right, hooking into a favourable wind shift which got them right on to the transom of race leading Caixa Galicia. With the superior downwind speed of the Botin Carkeek design they were able to overhaul Caixa which finished second.

“The boat is certainly going better. We did some work on the sails, moved the mast and changed the rake a little, recut the leech of the mainsail, and have two new spinnakers. We did some work with the rig manufacturer Hall Spars and with the designer Shaun Carkeek and I think that all has improved a lot. And Russell is now driving with Gavin and Jordi on tactics. They are good communicators and are good at feeding Russell information all the time. But there is still room for improvement.” Said Lexus’ co-owner Jaime Yllera.

Warpath's damaged bow after the second day of races of the Breitling Regatta. Puerto Portals, 21 July 2006. Photo copyright: Richard Page