Paolo Cian wins Open de España - Soria Natural

Paolo Cian and his Shosholoza crew were the winners of the 5th edition of the Open de España - Soria Natural, the ISAF Grade 1 match racing event that took place from April 8th to 12th in Calpe.

It is Spain’s most important match racing event and the only to have the newly-established title of qualifier regatta for the World Match Racing Tour. These events, although not forming part of the circuit, play a significant role since the winners are invited to one of the World Match Racing Tour’s official stages. Each WMRT stage can have up to two qualifier events, and Calpe’s Open de España –Soria Natural winner gets a slot to the starting line of the Saint Moritz Match Race, held in the Swiss city, from September 2nd to 7th.

Unfortunately, today’s racing took place under very difficult and demanding conditions, very similar to Thursday and Friday. There was a constant fight between the sea and land breeze that resulted in constantly fluctuating and shifting winds. These trying conditions put race officials at test and forced them to cancel racing twice during the day.

The semifinals started at around 12pm and Cian faced Russian Andrey Arbuzov whom he beat without great difficulty 3 to 0. In the other semifinal, Presti had to face the young up-and-coming Australian, and last year's winner, Torvar Mirsky. After losing the first race, Presti finally prevailed over the young Australian by 3 to 1. A penalty at the 3rd race and unforgivable crew errors at the 4th one cost Mirsky the spot in the finals of the event.

Presti continued his winning streak into the first race of the finals. After a close prestart, he crossed the starting line two boatlenghths ahead of Cian and never lost his lead. Cian was unable to pass him and lost the race.

In the following two races, Cian demonstrated his excellent match-racing skills and the reason he's third in the ISAF Match Racing rankings. He had a plan, to force Presti to commit errors and get penalties and he stuck to it. Presti received two penalties, one at the top mark of the second race and another one during the prestart period of the third and last race. Although Cian never managed to gain a great lead, the late-afternoon excruciatingly light conditions (as seen in the photos) meant it was impossible for Presti to make up the lost distance after offloading his penalties.

In addition to Cian, Shosholoza's crew consisted of Teva Plichart, Pierluigi de Felice and Pierluigi Fornelli. During the 32nd America's Cup, Plichart was grinder with Areva Challenge while de Felice was a trimmer at Mascalzone Latino.

Philippe Presti racing against Torvar Mirsky in the semifinals. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Everybody's yelling on the two boats but Philippe Presti was not right. He got a penalty. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The young Australian sailor gets furious as he sees his chance to the finals go away. Not only was he penalized, he lost precious time at the beginning of the last leg as his crew was unable to hoist the spinnaker. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Paolo Cian racing against Andrey Arbuzov during the day's first semifinal. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Paolo Cian racing against Andrey Arbuzov during the day's first semifinal. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Paolo Cian and Philippe Presti during prestart of the first race. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing


Paolo Cian sailing in the first race. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Paolo Cian and Philippe Presti during the first leg of the first race. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Final run of the first race between Paolo Cian and Philippe Presti. It was a close race but Presti held on to his advantage from start to finish. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Philippe Presti squeezes in at the top mark of the second race and gets a penalty. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Paolo Cian sailing in the last race of the finals. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Philippe Presti sailing in the last race of the finals. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Happy faces for Paolo Cian and his Shosholoza crew after beating Philippe Presti 2-1. Calpe, 12 April 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing