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Recent
yachting
and boating events covered by Outimage Publications |
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| Louis Vuitton
Trophy |
| Auckland New
Zealand |
| Photos by Howard
Wright. |
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| Louis Vuitton Trophy |
| Auckland New Zealand |
| Photos by
Stefano Gattini. |
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| RORC Caribbean
600 |
Photos by Carlo Borlenghi
and Stefano Gattini. |
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XXVI Primo
Cup - Trophée
Credit Suisse |
| Photos by Stefano
Gattini and Bruno Cocozza. |
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| Alinghi, defender
of the |
| 33rd America’s
Cup |
| Photos by Carlo
Borlenghi. |
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| Rolex Sydney
Hobart 2009. |
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SOLAS Big Boat
Challenge 2009. |
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China Cup 2009
by Carlo Borlenghi. |
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| Rolex Middle Sea Race 2009. |
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| Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2009. |
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| Rolex Fastnet Race 2009. |
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| Brisbane to
Keppel Tropical Yacht Race 2009. |
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| Audi Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race 2009. |
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Audi Winter Series
Sydney Harbour 2009. |
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RORC Caribbean
600
Antigua
February 23-25, 2009.
Photographs by
Carlo Borlenghi
and Stefano Gattini. |
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Volvo Ocean Race
2008-2009. |
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61st Brisbane
to Gladstone
Yacht Race 2009. |
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Audi Sydney
Offshore Newcastle
Yacht Race 2009. |
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XXV Primo Cup
Trophée Credit Suisse
Montecarlo, Feb 5-15, 2009.
Photographs by
Carlo Borlenghi. |
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Louis Vuitton
Pacific Series
Auckland New Zealand,
Jan 24 - Feb 14, 2009.
Photographs by
Stefano Gattini. |
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| The 2008 Rolex
Sydney Hobart Yacht Race |
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| The 2008 SOLAS
Big Boat Challenge 2008. |
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| The 2008 Rolex
Trophy One Design Series |
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Sydney Short
Ocean
Racing Championship
November 29-30, 2008. |
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Rolex Middle
Sea Race 2008 Valletta, Malta.
October 18 - 25, 2008. |
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Maxi Yacht
Rolex Cup
Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
September 1 - 6, 2008. |
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Sydney Gold
Coast
Yacht Race 2008. |
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Giraglia Rolex
Cup 2008
Saint-Tropez France
Genova Italy
June 8 - 14, 2008. |
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Rolex Farr
40 Worlds 2008
Miami Beach, Florida |
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| Grand Banks
Rendevzous, Hawkesbury River NSW Australia 2008. |
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| ET two, Nerone. |
| By the Rolex
Farr 40 Worlds Media Team. |
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Photos by Daniel
Forster for Rolex,
edited By Peter Andrews. |
| Saturday, April 24,
2010. |
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The Rolex Farr
40 Worlds lived up to its billing as the big boat one-design
championship against which all others are measured. The 2010
series was decided on the final race of the final day, in
front of a huge spectator fleet from rubber ducks to 25 metre
sport fishers.
Massimo Mezzaroma’s Nerone (ITA) ended the
day lauded champion, for the second time (their first in
2003), having fought tooth and nail in a gladiatorial arena
worthy of a blockbuster film. Guido Belgiorno-Nettis’ Transfusion (AUS)
were beaten at the last, but certainly not disgraced. The
next Rolex Farr 40 World Championship will be held in Sydney
in February 2011 and what a rematch prospect that will
be. |
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Massimo Mezzaroma's Nerone sailing upwind during Race 8
of the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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The final day
started early. Principal Race Officer, Peter Reggio, knew
he was in charge of a Worlds and was determined to give the
participants every chance to complete the scheduled ten races,
in spite of losing the entire second day. The first signal
was brought forward to 10:00 local time, three races were
threatened and for once the wind played ball.
Three races were held, all at the highest intensity, with
the three main protagonists in contention for the laurels
at the fore every time. Defending champion, Jim Richardson’s Barking
Mad (USA), also chose today to put together their
best daily tally of the series, scoring 2,3,1, and they
gave no favours on the course to either of their main opponents. |
| |
Jim Richardson's Barking Mad hoisting spinnaker, during
the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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The Australians
on Transfusion held a two-point cushion at the start
of the day. Belgiorno-Nettis knew it was not enough to feel
comfortable. At least the fight was in their hands; all they
had to do was keep in front of Nerone. Easier said
than done. The Italians are wily foxes, capable of sniffing
out an advantage from the most improbable situations. Take
the bottom mark rounding of the first race, eventually won
by Helmut Jahn’s Flash Gordon (USA).
Transfusion in second rounded the right hand gate
mark and tacked almost immediately. Nerone, barrelling
down under spinnaker with their minds firmly on a clean
and rapid takedown found themselves completely in the wrong
position. Nerone fouled Transfusion and
faced a penalty turn. That they managed to limit the damage
to a one point loss by the end of the race suggests not
only brilliance but extraordinary resilience. But tactician,
Vasco Vascotto, is extraordinary if nothing else. Terry
Hutchinson once said, "sailing against Vasco makes
you a better sailor". |
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Guido Belgiorno-Nettis' Transfusion hoisting spinnaker,
during the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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It would be
cruel to say that Tom Slingsby, tactician on Transfusion,
received a lesson on taking one’s chances, but in the
second race he did. Smarting from their error in race one,
Mezzaroma and Nerone’s crew took the sword
to the opposition in race two. The increasing wind strength
was still bouncing from swing to swing, and getting in phase
was key. Nerone did so, Transfusion never
did.
The Australian’s eventual fifth, to Nerone’s first
turned the tables all but decisively in favour of Italians. Transfusion’s three-point
advantage dissolved into a one-point deficit. With one
race left, Nerone’s stronger score line
meant she just needed to finish ahead or immediately behind Transfusion to
win overall. The pressure was on the men from down under.
For the first time in the championship they were off top
spot. |
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Wolfgang Schaefer's Struntje Light and Helmut and Evan Jahn's Flash
Gordon, during the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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The third race
of the day and tenth of the series as a whole, was sailed
in a gusting, building breeze that at times caught the Farr
40 crews off-guard, especially as they headed downwind. The
previous days of light-wind sailing had perhaps softened
the usual battle-hardened edge.
Nerone went straight for the throat of Transfusion in
the pre-start. Vascotto versus Slingsby in a match-race
looks a one sided contest on paper. Slingsby is noted for
his fleet racing prowess, not mano-a-mano contests. That
said, he slipped the net cast by Nerone and grabbed
a solid start at the committee boat, whilst the Italians
were mid-line and not so well-placed. Barking Mad took
the race, leading from start to finish, while behind her
there were twists and turns aplenty. |
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Doug Douglass' Goombay Smash and Jim Richardson's Barking
Mad, during the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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To those watching Transfusion and Nerone seemed
inseparable, bound by a piece of elastic. However far apart
they separated, they always came back together. If one went
right and the other left up the beat up to the top mark,
both would arrive together nose to tail. Initially, Nerone held
the advantage, but the Aussies never gave up.
Their problem was finding another boat to get between them
and the Italians. At one point on the final beat it looked
as though Alberto Rossi’s Enfant Terrible (ITA)
might spoil their compatriot’s party. Twice though
Mezzaroma’s team shut the door on them. Tacking on
top to protect the gap to Transfusion. Out in
front there was only Barking Mad, and Richardson
and Hutchinson had the bit between their teeth and were
not slowing up to help anyone. |
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Lisa and Martin Hill's Estate Master and Alberto Rossi's Enfant
Terrible turning the windward mark, during the Rolex Farr 40
Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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In the circumstances,
it looked all over by the second windward mark, but the run
was in unsettling conditions. The strongest winds of the
championship had arrived while the sea-state was stirred
up by the machinations of the avid spectator fleet. Flash
Gordon lost it badly, just after the rounding. Would
one of the leaders suffer similar ignominy?
Transfusion tried their best, throwing a couple
of gybes at Nerone, trying to draw an error. The
Italians though had scented victory and sailed impeccably,
even managing to roll over the top of Transfusion into
second place. The noise and celebration started before
the line was crossed. Nerone had won their second
World Championship and deservedly so. Class Manager, Geoff
Stagg, had commented last night: "that it takes luck
as well as skill to win the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds." Nerone had
certainly ridden the bucking bronco of luck most adeptly
over the last four days. Mezzaroma celebrated victory effusively
with his crew as they crossed the line, but ashore, he
was more circumspect.
"This Worlds has a lot of meaning for us because my co-owner
and helmsman Antonio Sodo Migliori had a very bad accident one
month ago. And we’ve done this for him and another guy,
Simon, who’s been sailing with us for ten years. These
two guys are injured at home and it is very important for us
to get this result."
"After last year at the Worlds in Sardinia we were a bit
sad because losing in the last race of the series is very tough.
This time we won! Sometimes it comes, sometimes it goes," Mezzaroma
continued.
As for 2011 and the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds in Sydney, Mezzaroma
was honest. "We were thinking of not going because
we are becoming old, everyone has family and kids. But
at this point there is no chance that we are not going!" |
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Broach of Helmut and Evan Jahn's Flash Gordon 6 broaches
behind Lisa and Martin Hill's Estate Master, during the
Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Vascotto was
his usual self, effusive, engaging and respectful of his
competitors. "It was a really tough game against Transfusion and
they did a fantastic championship. Both boats knew it was
a hard game to the last metre. And we were prepared for that.
We worked hard, especially in the first race of the day,
we were back with a penalty, but we had a beautiful comeback
and we fight for every single metre. This is the way I like
to win. We are happy because I forgot how good it was to
win. It was many years ago!"
While the Italians were celebrating in true Latin manner,
spraying champagne, hugging, singing, kissing and throwing
each other into the harbour, a little way up the dock the
crew of Transfusion were reflecting on the one
that got away. First to congratulate Mezzaroma and his
team after crossing the finish, the Australians are rightly
proud of their achievement in finishing second. |
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Massimo Mezzaroma, Vasco Vascotto and the crew of Nerone,
after winning the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships 2010 in Casa
de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Guido Belgiorno-Nettis
acknowledged that ending up in standings between Jim Richardson
and Terry Hutchinson, and, Mezzaroma and Vascotto (who have
been in the Class for many years), at only their second Worlds
is something they deserve to be pleased about. The disappointment
that they were unable to carry their lead through to the
finish was softened by an achievement that any of the boats
behind them would have welcomed.
"I feel absolutely elated with the result that the boys managed to get for
us. We came here, the Aussie contingent from down under, trying to pull off something
we could only dream of, and we were pretty close. We were there, we led today,
we lead the last couple of days. But there’s no doubt that Nerone sailed
better than us, it’s very simple. We sailed as well as we could, they just
picked the shifts better than we did. I’ve got to hand it to Vasco and
the owners of Nerone, that they’ve got a great team. I think to
be sandwiched between them and Jim Richardson (Barking Mad) is a pretty
good effort." |
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Guido Belgiorno-Nettis' Transfusion on last day of theRolex
Farr 40 Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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Like the rest
of the Farr 40 Class, Belgiorno-Nettis is now looking forward
to 2011 and the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds scheduled for Sydney.
"Overall, we’re delighted with that outcome. It was
a fantastic opportunity to come over and see how the world’s
best sailors sail, and know that we can mix it with them. So
we’re going to give them a good hiding when they come down
to Sydney next year! The sailing waters are stunning. We have
quite challenging conditions: it can vary from quite light to
quite heavy. Most of the racing will probably be offshore and
there’s really a lot of joggle off there. We’ve got
that complex wave pattern that comes from everywhere; south,
east, sometimes from the north. When they mix it up and you get
the reflection back off our rocky coastline, it’s a big
tumbler, so it’s going to be challenging for everybody." |
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Hoisting spinnaker onboard Massimo Mezzaroma's Nerone, during
the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2010 in Casa de Campo.
Photo © Rolex / Daniel Forster.
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The 2011 Rolex
Farr 40 World Championship will take place February 23 to
26, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. For more information about
the 2010 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, including results,
please visit: www.farr40worlds.com.
Rolex Farr 40 Worlds Final Results - Day 4
(Position / Name / Owner / Country / R1-R2-R3-R4-R5-R6-R7-R8-R9-R10 / Total
Points)
1. Nerone, Massimo Mezzarona/Alberto Signorini (ITA), 2-5-5-2-1-1-7-4-1-2,
30
2. Transfusion, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis (AUS), 1-1-3-3-2-6-5-3-5-3,
32
3. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson (USA), 4-3-1-10-3-3-3-8-2-3-1,
38
4. Estate Master, Lisa and Martin Hill (AUS), 7-2-10-8-4-9-1-5-2-7,
52.5
5. Fiamma, Alessandro Barnaba (ITA), 5-7-6-1-7-10-10-6-6-4-6,
58
6. Enfant Terrible, Alberto Rossi (ITA), 6-10-4-5-6-4-4-7-8-4,
58
7. Goombay Smash, Doug Douglass (USA), 8-8-2-7-10-2-2-10-9-5,
63
8. Plenty, Alex Roepers (USA), 3-9-7-6-9-5-3-9-6-8, 65
9. Struntje Light, Wolfgang Schaefer (GER), 9-4-9-4-8-7-9-8-7-9,
74
10. Flash Gordon 6, Helmut and Evan Jahn (USA), 10-6-8-9-5-8-10-1-10-10,
77 |
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| Outimage and
Rolex © 2010 |
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| Scuttlebutt Europe Daily News Feed. |
| Produced by boats.com Europe, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinion, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors. |
| To the Scuttlebutt Europe Daily News Feed Page. |
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