The forecasters had said the wind would ease, but instead torrential rain bought stronger winds which tested all 15 boats and teams competing at the Cascais RC44 Cup 2012. Sailing with their big masthead spinnakers in the first race of the day the wind increased to 28 knots, by the final run a number of the team’s fell foul to some spectacular broaches.
One team that relished the conditions was Peninsula Petroleum (GBR). They chose their favourite spot at the leeward end of the start-line in each race and went on to win the first two races before posting a solid fifth in the third, moving John Bassadone, Vasco Vascotto (ITA) and the Gibraltar based team up to fifth overall. Owner and the man at the helm, John Bassadone, was pretty pleased with their day on the water. “It was pretty scary today, actually very very exciting! We had unbelievable results and all sailed really well managing to control the boat, the crew did amazingly.”
Katusha (RUS) led the opening race of the day upto the final run before losing their spinnaker tack-line, which led to a dramatic spinnaker blow-out. With the halyard wrapped around the mainsail they couldn’t hoist their second kite and had to two-sail to the finish. “We were lucky to lose only three points on that run,” was guest helmsman Steve Howe’s synopsis after racing. The rest of the day proved less eventful, a solid second and third place followed leaving Katusha at the top of the overnight leaderboard, with a 14-point lead.
Team Aqua slotted in two sixth and a fifth to move up into second place overall whilst Artemis Racing (SWE) recovered from an average start to win the final race of the day. The team suffered two broaches right before the finish line of race one. The first was helped by a luff from Katusha, which saw the Swedes penalised for not keeping clear and incur a penalty turn. The second came on the last gybe and resulted in the spinnaker wrapping around the keel.
Morgan Larson (USA) tactician on Artemis Racing explained the conditions on the race course. “It was really tough out there today obviously windy and rainy but good action and the boats were perfect. The wind was top end for the boats but good, it would have been fairly under control if you had been sailing around on your own but when you start racing, sailing higher upwind and faster downwind with boats around you it gets pretty wild, with waves coming over the bow and into the boats, they get heavier and then you start breaking sails which is what you saw out there today.”
Photo.© MartinezStudio.es
Si è concluso a Bogliaco il Trofeo Bianchi, appuntamento organizzato dal Circolo Vela Gargnano, che ha visto la Classe Protagonist 7.50 protagonista di un fine settimana combattuto e ricco di spunti tecnici
Anche quest’anno il porto turistico internazionale Marina Genova, nel quartiere di Sestri Ponente in zona aeroporto, è pronto ad accogliere una flotta di barche storiche, nelle stesse giornate in cui si svolgerà la diciottesima edizione di Yacht&Garden
Il progetto che porterà la Francia alla Coppa America 2027 nasce con una scelta controculturale per una nazione storicamente molto identitaria nella vela; salgono a bordo gli spagnoli Diego Botín e Florian Trittel
La grafica di 11th Hour Racing si ispira ai tre pilastri della campagna della skipper – “Believe, Belong, Achieve” – e ha come elemento centrale un volto composto da figure umane e richiami alla natura
Si è concluso il 22 marzo il raduno nazionale RS Feva, ospitato dal Circolo Velico Ravennate, che ha visto la partecipazione di 20 imbarcazioni provenienti da 6 circoli italiani
Prosegue con successo la stagione 2026 della Flotta sarda J24 che sarà suddivisa in due parti: la prima con il Campionato Sociale (4 tappe da febbraio a maggio) e la seconda con il Campionato Zonale (4 giornate tra ottobre e novembre)
Per Caorle la vela, grazie all'impegno del CNSM, del Comune e dei tanti partner che appoggiano il progetto, è diventata volano per lo sviluppo e la crescita di tutto il territorio
La campagna 4T FORTE Trade-In ha debuttato nel Global Recycling Day, rafforzando un futuro circolare per la vela ad alte prestazioni
Con l’apertura ufficiale dello Swan Tuscany Challenge in programma per domani mattina - primo di una lunga serie di eventi velici in calendario - lo Yacht Club Toscana è pronto ad inaugurare la sua nuova stagione di regate
Negli ultimi giorni, a Parigi, le Assises “Course au Large 2030” hanno riportato al centro del dibattito un tema cruciale per la vela mondiale: come trasformare la vela oceanica per renderla sostenibile, credibile e competitiva nei prossimi decenni