Video: Highlights from Day 3 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup

Highlights from race 5 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

Agustín Zabalúa wins the first edition of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup

A thrilling race in Valencia for the final day of the 1st Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup in Valencia. Thermal breeze between 6 and 8 knots for the first race won once again by Argentinean Agustin Zabalua. The sixth and final race carrying double points was abandoned on the second beat due to the complete lack of wind. Zabalua is the first Champion of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup that in 2011 will take place in Riva del Garda, Italy, at the end of July. Thirty helmsmen from 14 nations entered the event.

Valencia, Spain October 3nd 2010- Argentinean Augustin Zabalua is the first Champion of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup that wrapped up with a nail-biting race in Valencia on Sunday. The fifth race was held with a 6 to 8 knot thermal breeze from the southeast and Zabalua cut the finishing line first, thereby scoring his third victory. Italian Andrea Gancia was second over the line and the Hungarian Olympic Laser sailor Zsombor Berecz came in third. Zabalua was in the lead with a 4-point margin on the Hungarian and 6 on Croatian Ivan Gaspic. Nothing was yet decided though. There still was time to fire the gun for the sixth and final race that carried double points and could still shape the final scoreboard. The fleet cut the starting line with a six-knot breeze from 115 that slowly died down to nothing at all while competitors were working their way up the second beat. The excellent Real Club Nautico de Valencia Race Committee rightfully decided to abandon the race and sailors returned to shore where an enormous and delicious paella was awaiting them.

Final day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Ignacio Baixauli

Agustin Zabalua won with the excellent results 4-2-1-1-1, with a 4-point lead on Hungarian Zsombor Berecz (1-6-2-3-3) and a 6-point margin on Croatian Ivan Gaspic (3-1-5-2-8), first among the six Olympic Finn athletes who took part in the Championship. British Ed Wright, who recently won the Finn Gold Cup, finished fourth overall (6-3-6-4-12) while Alberto Ferrari, the best of the Italians, finished is fifth (2-11-7-12-5).

In commenting the Championship, Luca Devoti stated, “We had three fantastic days and I am very satisfied with the fleet’s performance and with the way the event turned out. The weight equalization system proved to be a great intuition and success: all the best sailors between 72 and 95 kilos were vying for the lead. Our goal is to see the class continue to grow by working with the five national associations and collaborating with the International Class we created here in Valencia that has Philippe Rogge as its President. The Real Club Nautico de Valencia was perfect both on the water and on shore. The next edition of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup will take place in Riva del Garda, Italy, at the end of July 2011"

This concludes the first international event of the D-One Class that saw 30 helmsmen from 14 nations and 3 continents battle it out on Spanish waters.

The event is sponsored by Magic Marine and BetPro.it

Final day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Ignacio Baixauli

MAGIC MARINE - BET PRO D-ONE GOLD CUP REAL CLUB NAUTICO DE VALENCIA 01 OCT 2010 - 03 OCT 2010

OVERALL LEADERBOARD

Class : D-ONE

Discards : 1

Pos	Helmsman	Country	1	2	3	4	5	TOTAL
1	AGUSTIN ZABALUA	ARGENTINA	4	2	1	1	1	5
2	ZSOMBOR BERECZ	HUNGARY	1	6	2	3	3	9
3	IVAN KLIAKOVIC GASPIC	CROATIA	3	1	5	2	8	11
4	EDWARD WRIGHT	GREAT BRITAIN	6	3	6	4	12	19
5	ALBERTO FERRARI	ITALY	2	11	7	12	5	25
6	ANDREA GANCIA	ITALY	11	20	8	5	2	26
7	JONATHAN LOBERT	FRANCE	10	14	4	7	9	30
8	MATT COUTTS	NEW ZELAND	22	9	9	6	7	31
9	ROMAN TEPLY	CZECH REPUBLIC	13	8	10	8	6	32
10	ANDREA GIAMMARINI	ITALY	5	4	11	16	31	36
11	MICHAEL MAIER	CZECH REPUBLIC	8	10	16	18	4	38
12	FABIO TOCCOLI	ITALY	12	5	21	9	15	41
13	ANDY TURTON	AUSTRALIA	19	17	3	10	31	49
14	TIM GARVIN	GREAT BRITAIN	9	12	17	11	17	49
15	PAOLO ROSSI	ITALY	7	7	18	20	20	52
16	GUIDO FALCIOLA	ITALY	23	21	12	14	14	61
17	GIOVANNI TRICARICO	ITALY	20	22	14	19	13	66
18	PHILIPPE ROGGE	BELGIUM	18	31	25	17	11	71
19	VICENTE IRANZO	SPAIN	28	31	15	13	16	72
20	STEFFEN BOCK	GERMANY	14	18	24	22	21	75
21	BRET PERRY	AUSTRALIA	16	15	23	31	22	76
22	MATTHIAS GROTHUES-SPORK	GERMANY	21	16	22	24	31	83
23	RALF BEHRENS	GERMANY	24	19	27	23	18	84
24	STEFANO CARUSO	ITALY	17	24	20	26	24	85
25	MICHELE TOGNOZZI	ITALY	25	26	13	28	25	89
26	KEITH FEDI	GREAT BRITAIN	15	13	31	31	31	90
27	WALTER RITSHCKA	AUSTRIA	27	23	19	25	23	90
28	SUMIO SHIMOYAMA	JAPAN	31	31	29	21	10	91
29	RAFAEL TRUJILLO	SPAIN	31	31	26	15	19	91
30	GIANCARLO PRAGLIOLA	ITALY	26	25	28	27	31	106

Video: Highlights from Day 2 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup

Highlights from race 3 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

Highlights from race 4 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

Photos from the second day of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup

The moderate winds prevailed for a second day in Valencia but the 30 D-One's battling it out for the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup had two very close races, especially among the top three sailors, Argentina's Agustín Zabalúa, Croatia's Ivan Gaspic and Zsombor Berecz from Hungary. Zabalúa scored two bullets but only after sweating hard and weaving his way through the fleet. The final stretch of the second race's last run was truly nail-biting and Zabalúa snatched his victory right at the finish. Zabalúa, Gaspic and Berecz probably gybed 7-8 times in the last 20 meters. With another two races scheduled for Sunday everything is up for grabs.

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 2 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Zabalúa takes the lead at Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup after two bullets on 2nd day

Nothing is written in stone yet at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. After today’s two races with an Easterly thermal breeze between 6 and 9 knots, won by Agustin Zabalua, the Argentinean springs to the lead of the fleet after four races and a discard. Croatian Ivan Gaspic and Hungarian Zsombor Berecz are second on the provisional scoreboard with only a two-point difference. Tomorrow is going to be a make or break day with two races scheduled, and the second one carrying double points and non-discardable.

In the first race Zabalua’s victory was clear-cut, whereas in the second the Argentinean sailor took advantage of the match race between Zsombor and Gaspic who battled it out on the whole last downwind leg, losing contact with Zabalua who gave it his best and overtook the two on the finishing line. A great show on the water for all 30 helmsmen.

Back on the docks Zabalua stated: “Lady Luck smiled down on me today: I found good pressure at the centre of the course while the other two were duelling. I would like to point out that I come from the Snipe class and weigh 72 kilos. The Hungarian was an Olympic athlete in the Laser class and weighs 82 kilos and the Croatian weighs 98 kilos and races in the Finn class: nonetheless, we fought it out up the beat and down the run! Tomorrow it’s a do or die situation, but with the double point system in the last race anything can happen. The road ahead is challenging”.

British Ed Wright is fourth on the scoreboard (today with a 6-4) and Italian Alberto Ferrari is fifth (7-12).

Tomorrow the warning signal for the last two races is scheduled for 2 p.m. The weather forecast calls for a Westerly breeze. Tonight a Gala Dinner will take place at the Real Club Nautico de Valencia for the 31 helmsmen from 14 countries that entered the event

MAGIC MARINE BETPRO D-ONE GOLD CUP

RESULTS AFTER 4 RACES (1 DISCARD)

Pos	Helmsman	Country	1	2	3	4	Total
1	AGUSTIN ZABALUA	ESPAÑA	4	2	1	1	4
2	IVAN KLIAKOVIC GASPIC	CROATIA	3	1	5	2	6
3	ZSOMBOR BERECK	HUNGARY	1	6	2	3	6
4	EDWARD WRIGHT	GREAT BRITAIN	6	3	6	4	13
5	ALBERTO FERRARI	ITALY	2	11	7	12	20
6	ANDREA GIAMMARINI	ITALIA	5	4	11	16	20
7	JONATHAN LOBERT	FRANCE	10	14	4	7	21
8	ANDREA GANCIA	ITALIA	11	20	8	5	24
9	MATT COUTTS	NEW ZELAND	22	9	9	6	24
10	FABIO TOCCOLI	ITALY	12	5	21	9	26
11	ROMAN TEPLY	CZECH REPUBLIC	13	8	10	8	26
12	ANDY TURTON	AUSTRALIA	19	17	3	10	30
13	PAOLO ROSSI	ITALY	7	7	18	20	32
14	TIM GARVIN	GREAT BRITAIN	9	12	17	11	32
15	MICHAEL MAIER	CZECH REPUBLIC	8	10	16	18	34
16	GUIDO FALCIOLA	ITALY	23	21	12	14	47
17	GIOVANNI TRICARICO	ITALY	20	22	14	19	53
18	STEFFEN BOCK	GERMANY	14	18	24	22	54
19	BRET PERRY	AUSTRALIA	16	15	23	23	54
20	VICENTE IRANZO	SPAIN	28	31	15	13	56
21	KEITH FEDI	GREAT BRITAIN	15	13	31	31	59
22	MATTHIAS GROTHUES-SPORK	GERMANY	21	16	22	25	59
23	PHILIPPE ROGGE	ITALY	18	31	25	17	60
24	STEFANO CARUSO	ITALY	17	24	20	27	61
25	MICHELE TOGNOZZI	ITALY	25	26	13	29	64
26	RALF BEHRENS	GERMANY	24	19	27	24	67
27	WALTER RITSHCKA	AUSTRIA	27	23	19	26	68
28	RAFAEL TRUJILLO	SPAIN	31	31	26	15	72
29	GIANCARLO PRAGLIOLA	ITALY	26	25	28	28	79
30	SUMIO SHIMOYAMA	JAPAN	31	31	29	21	81

Video: Highlights from Day 1 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup

Highlights from race 1 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

Highlights from race 2 of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup opening day. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Video copyright Devoti Sailing

Photos from the opening day of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup

Despite the quite light conditions we had on Friday, opening day of the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup, there was close and exciting racing among the 30-strong fleet of D-One's. Croatian Ivan Gaspic was the most consistent in the day's two races, and a bullet and third secured him the top spot at the leaderrboard. Still, his margin of just points over second-placed Agustín Zabalua will definitely not make him rest on his laurels. Hungary's Zsombor Bereck is one further point behind while the Finn world Champion Ed Wright is placed fourth.

Matt Coutts, the young kiwi Finn sailor, could have done better but a 22nd and a 9th place him right in the middle of the table. Coutts did well in the first beats, in fact he was ahead in the first weather mark in the second race, but he definitely struggled in the runs, showing poor boat speed.

The D-One regattas are definitely competitive on the water but there is always a spirit of camaraderie and fun that reins once the boats return to the yacht club. This is also one of the reasons that only two races per day are sailed.

The photos here are in no particular order and tell no particular story, it's just a collection from the first day racing, on what all participants here call "awesome and exciting" boats.

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First day of racing at the Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup. Valencia, 1 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing