Behind came Artemis, Explora Journey Swiss and Bonds Flying Roos who lack the poker of victories but strengthen their leadership in the standings. No final for Red Bull Italy, third in group B with a fourth place, two fifths and a third place
Grandstands packed with fans in Halifax, Canada, for the SailGP stage, the international circuit on F.50 catamarans. They were not bored even though the organizers took the unusual decision to divide the large fleet into two groups, anticipating complicated weather conditions. They got us, because on the first day the light breezes turned into a nice storm with the sailors more worried about not ruining the F.50s than about the final result. More regular wind on the second day, however within the limits of the regulation which provides for a limit of 15 knots. On several occasions, the boats reached 75 km/h, risking quite a bit: the victim of the situation was Emirates GBR, second in the circuit, which got stuck in a test (ruining the sails) and left the scene. Thus in Group B the Swedes of Artemis with the Australian Nathan Outteridge as skipper and the surprising Swiss of Seb Schneiter’s Explora Journey Swiss qualified for the final. From Group A came the Australians of Bonds Flying Roos captained by Tom Slingsby and the Spanish of Los Gallos with Diego Botin at the helm.
Spanish festival
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Against predictions, it was Diego Botin’s ‘chicos’ who prevailed in the final, with a fantastic rush from the sixth mark to the finish line: it was the first victory of the season for the Iberian team. Behind came Artemis, Explora Journey Swiss and Bonds Flying Roos who dreamed of achieving their fourth consecutive victory but can console themselves for having strengthened their leadership in the standings. Let’s move on to Red Bull Italy which confirmed the comforting signs in terms of speed, seen in the previous stage in New York but they were not enough to gain access to the final: it came third in group B after four decent tests: a fourth place, two fifths and a third. The general classification remains disappointing: being ninth out of thirteen participants certainly cannot be enough for the team led by Phil Robertson who was hired to make the change. And, barring miracles, entry into the higher areas seems precluded: Red Bull Italy has 22 points against the 41 of US Sail Team, fourth. Nor should the fact be underestimated that Bonds Flying Roots – leader of the circuit – has 62 points against the 44 of its closest pursuers, Los Gallos and Emirates GBR. The circus takes a month’s break and moves to Europe: on 25 and 26 July the competition will take place in Portsmouth, the temple of Anglo-Saxon sailing.
in the Mediterranean
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Meanwhile in the Mediterranean it is time for great regattas. The Rolex T52 World Championship took place in Porto Cervo: after nine hard-fought races, among the fifteen boats at the start, Sled prevailed on which the Italians Checco Bruni as tactician and Andrea Visentini as navigator raced. The Australian Adam Beashel is at the helm, replacing the owner, the Japanese Takashi Okura. In second place the Swedish team Trinity Racing and in third the German Platoon Aviation with Vasco Vascotto as tactician and Olympic champion Jordi Calafat as strategist. The Loro Piana Giraglia was also run, a very classic offshore race with the passage of the Giraglia rock and now in its 72nd edition. Light wind, almost absent at times which forced the organizers of the Italian Yacht Club to eliminate the passage of the Ile du Levant – after the departure from Saint Tropez and significantly extended the arrival time in Genoa. In the final roulette, between non-existent breezes, the victory in real time went to Furio Benussi’s Arca SGR at the end of a magnificent duel with Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’ Magic Carpet E. The success in the IRC Overall class which awards the trophy went to the Turkish TP52 Arkas Blue Moon, TP 52 ahead of the two tested Italian Wallyrocket 51s, Roberto Lacorte’s Rocketnikka. and Django WR by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. The ORC Overall class was won by Crabx, Roberto Bosio’s XR-41.
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