Damien Iehl wins Open de España after windless closing day

It's a pity when weather conditions don't let you watch four of the world's best match racers battle their way to a trophy but after all that's sailing. You have to accept that there is nothing you can do but wait until there is at least some decent breeze in order to have a fair race.

The race committee did its best and looked for the tiniest indication of decent conditions, far and wide for more than 6 hours but to no avail. Although the forecast yesterday evening was promising, the late-night heavy rain cooled the land and the clouds didn't let the thermal breeze build up. As a result, they were left with no option but call the day off at 5pm.

The final ranking of the event is thus the final ranking of the round robin. Damien Iehl wins the Open de España, having also won the round robin with a perfect 11-0 score. The world's number 2 match racer, Torvar Mirsky, finishes second with 10 victories, having lost his match to Iehl. Finally, Pierre-Antoine is third with 9 victories and two losses to, who else, Iehl and Mirsky.

Open de España Match Race - Final Results
1. Damien Iehl
2. Torvar Mirsky
3. Pierre-Antoine Morvan
4. Björn Hansen

Damien Iehl wins Open de España Match Race. Calpe, 30 April 2010. Photos opyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Update from Alicante and Calpe

Greetings from Calpe where Torvar Mirsky and Damien Iehl have been knocking their opponents down like flies in the 1st two days of Open de España Match Race, the sole World Match Racing tour qualifier event in Spain.

The young Australian and the less young French match racers are sharing the top spot of the round robins with a perfect 8-0 score so far. Friday promises to be interesting as the match between them will take place in the last flight, probably deciding who's going to move to the quarter finals at the top. Unfortunately, I arrived late, and as a result, our report today will just be what Mirsky and his team are sending.

Nevertheless, it has been a very fruitful morning in Alicante with two quite interesting interviews. We first talked to Ken Read, Puma skipper, moments before he boarded "Il Mostro" for their trip back to Newport. Unfortunately, my video is embargoed as Ken talked about what will be officially announced from the team very soon, probably on Friday.... At least, there are a couple of shots.

The second interview was with Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, and touched all aspects of the world's premier offshore race. It will be published on Sunday, after the end of Open de España.

Puma's "Il Mostro" is ready for a 12-day trip back to Newport, Rhode Island. Alicante, 29 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Puma's "Il Mostro" is ready for a 12-day trip back to Newport, Rhode Island. Alicante, 29 April 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Volvo Ocean Race & America's Cup: Ask your questions

Starting Thursday, and for three days, Valencia sailing will be in Calpe in order to cover yet another edition of Open Match Race España, the ISAF Grade 1 match racing event organized by the Royal Calpe Yacht Club. The Open España is also a World Match Racing Tour Qualifier event and its winner gets a slot at St Moritz Match Race.

This year's lineup includes Torvar Mirsky, the world's #2 match racer, while Adam Minoprio, the world's top match racer, is calling tactics on Michlle Perris' yacht. Another young kiwi match racer will be keeping a close eye upon is William Tiller, recent winner of the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta in Perth.

Given the proximity of Calpe and Alicante, I will take the opportunity to first visit the start port of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race and interview the CEO of the race, Knut Frostad. So, if there is anything in particular you would like to ask, feel free to comment or send an email.

As for the America's Cup, I was referring to the press conference BMW Oracle and Mascalzone Latino will hold next week in Rome, where they will outline the key dates for the 34th America's Cup. We will do our best to be there, so if you want Russell Coutts to, potentially, answer your question just write it.

Torvar Mirsky and his Mirsky Racing Team during the practice session of the Open Match Race España. Calpe, 27 April 2010. Photo copyright Jesús Renedo

Björn Hansen wins the Open de España Match Race

Swedish match racer Björn Hansen and his OnBoard Sailing Team won the 6th edition of the Open de España Match Race in a convincing way and after a day that started with long delays waiting for the breeze, then light and shifty conditions and ending at 8:30pm with a 12 knots of easterly breeze.

When the first race got underway, both sailors went into an aggressive prestart that cost Ainslie a penalty. Nevertheless, the South African got the upper hand on the starting line and went off to the right with a slight advantage. Not only was he able to hold on to it, Hansen slipped back in the second beat, giving Ainslie ample room to offload the penalty at the finish line and win the first race.

Being one race down, Hansen showed his aggressive match racing skills in the second start, squeezing Ainslie behind the committee boat and holding him back. Ainslie threw a fierce tacking duel in the first beat but half way up, umpires judged he tacked too close to Hansen, handing him a penalty. From that point he was unable to recover and with a penalty turn to do he would have to wait for the third and final race to decide the winner.

Before the start of the final race, and with night approaching fast, the breeze was rapidly dying down. Both sailors engaged in yet another close prestart whose clear winner was Hansen. He got the side the wanted and crossed the starting line with better speed. Ainslie stayed close behind him until the leeward mark, when sensing a left shift was coming, opted for the left side of the course while Hansen sticked to the right. The call didn't pay off for Ainslie because when the two Tom28 yachts converged once again after their huge separation, Hansen was several boatlengths ahead. The Swede sailed safely and won the race and the overall trophy.

Iain Ainslie leads Björn Hansen in the first race of the finals. Calpe, 25 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Björn Hansen sails to victory in the second race of the finals. Calpe, 25 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

After almost 9 hours on the water Björn Hansen wins the Open de España Match Race. Calpe, 25 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Petit Final : Iehl - Neugodnikov
After getting eliminated by Ainslie in the semifinals, Damien Iehl had a commanding performance over Neugodnikov. The Russian match racer proved to be an easy opponent for the French who claimed the 3rd place overall with a 2-0 victory in the petit final.

Damien Iehl beats Eugeny Neugodnikov 2-0 in the Open de España petit final. Calpe, 25 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

First Semifinal : Hansen - Neugodnikov
Unlike the other semifinal Hansen and Neugodnikov didn't suffer as much as Ainslie and Iehl from the fluky and shifty conditions. Even if at times they had to sail in a flickering breeze or face huge shifts, none of their races was canceled. The first race took place under light yet acceptable conditions. Despite the intense and aggressive prestart, Hansen crossed the starting line with a clear advantage on the right side of the course and managed to hold on to his lead until the end.

As the breeze was dying and shifting right, the second race was a simple question of who was to call tactics more accurately. It was Hansen that correctly picked the right and his lead grew to frustrating levels for Neugodnikov. He crossed the finish line when the Russian and his crew had just hoisted their spinnaker after rounding the top mark.

Prestart of the semifinal between Hansen and Eugodnikov. Calpe, 25 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Hansen sails to victory against Neugodnikov in the first semifinal. Calpe, 26 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Second Semifinal : Ainslie - Iehl
The close and intense racing and the exasperating wind conditions turned the second semifinal into a nailbiting drama. Ainslie won the first race in a convincing manner, leading his opponent from the start. After crossing the finish line the two crews were forced to endure more than an hour of frustrated attempts by the race committee to set a proper race course and get the 2nd match going. Racing was abandoned twice and with the time limit approaching fast, the race officers were considering the option of declaring Ainslie the winner in order to start the finals.

Finally, at around 6pm the breeze kicked in and the 2nd match started with Iehl squeezing Ainslie in the pre start, forcing him to tack twice on the start line. The French went off with a clear advantage that Ainslie was unable to overcome.

With the two teams tied and a steady breeze of 12 knots, we were guaranteed a close and exciting race and that was the case. Not only during the intense pre-start where Ainslie got the upper hand but also in the first beat, where we counted 12 tacks. Iehl was throwing all the tacks he could but Ainslie held on and won the race and the ticket to the final.

Ainslie leads Iehl in the first race of the second semifinal. Calpe, 26 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Iehl leads Ainslie in the second race of the second semifinal. Calpe, 26 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Ainslie leads Iehl in the third race of the second semifinal. Calpe, 26 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing