Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Kiteboarding, Windsurfing - Mondial du Vent - Leucate FRA - Day 3
Since last Saturday, the Mondial du Vent - a sport- and entertainment event in Leucate FRA near Narbonne at the Mediterranean Sea - has been underway. Wind- and Kitesurfer, Stand-Up-Paddler, Breakdancer competitions are on the program and this surrounded by beach parties.The Kiteboard Freestylers, engaged in a Freestyle Worldcup Event, have been on hold due to lack of wind since Saturday, but things can change quickly when the powerful Tramontane wind kicks-in. The elite drivers are present, among them Maxime Chabloz SUI.
The event website and the facebook page with videos.
The Spi Ouest Regatta in La Trinité FRA was terminated yesterday with the last races sailed in sun a moderate wind conditions. This classic Spring event at the French Atlantic Coast is one of the best attended competitions, this year with 440 teams in 16 classes.
Fast, elegant, extremely easy to sail: For 15 years, the fascinating yachts of Esseboats have inspired sailors. The Swiss yacht builder Josef Schuchter developed the Esse 850 together with the Italian designer Umberto Felci in 2004. Josef Schuchter's concept: A sporty boat with above-average sail characteristics and extremely easy handling. The Esse 850 immediately became a huge international success. 
The final race for the 32nd edition of Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta was held in a relatively moderate 15kn southeasterly wind. Racing was very close with eight of the classes decided on the very last race. 
The Olympic Classes Worldcup event, held for the first time in Genoa ITA, was concluded yesterday with the 470, Laser and Finn Medal Races, again in light winds around 6-8kn, and major modifications on top of the rankings occurred. 
In both Laser fleets, a leader change occurred after the Medal Races, sailed in a 6-8kn wind yesterday.
With the 12th and final race, the 2019 CIMA on the Etang de Berre was terminated yesterday.
The Lake Garda Optimist Meeting was concluded yesterday with the World Champion Marco Gradoni ITA on rank one thanks to his win in the final race. Richard Schultheis MLT followed on 2nd at equal points. Alex Demurtas ITA finished 3rd on his home waters. The 
In Campione ITA, the inaugural edition of the ' Foiling Easter' Regatta was concluded yesterday with all three classes present having sailed 9 races. 
The stormy Eastwind inhibited racing on the final day of the 5o5 Europacup Round one on Cannes Bay yesterday. Overall winner after four races are therefore Michael Quirk/Tim Needham AUS ahead of the veteran Howie Hamlin with Jeff Nelson USA and Ian Pinell/Russ Clark GBR. The multiple World Champions Hunger/Jess GER on 4th missed the podium by one point. 
The 440 teams at the 2019 Spi Ouest event in Morbihan continued racing yesterday in sun and a moderate wind. 
Another three Slalom heats were held yesterday on Almanarre Bay/Hyères in a fresh Eastwind. Winner of the traditional Swiss season opening competition was Daniel Aeberli SUI defending his lead over Daniel Slijk NED. Richard Stauffacher SUI moved up on the 3rd place. 63 drivers from 6 nations participated. 
Salvatore Mancino ITA was the overall winner in the first round of the O'pen Skiff EuroChallenge 2019 held in Palermo ITA over the past weekend. Manuel de Felice ITA finished first in the U17-division. 65 entrants made the long journey to Sicily and completed 9 races in light to moderate winds. 
David and Lachy Gilmour AUS finished 4th in the 49er Medal Race and defended their first place ahead of McHardie/McKenzie NZL and Burling/Tuke NZL. With a victory in the 49erFX Medal Race, Odile Van Aanholt/Marieke Jongens NED consolidted their top position in front of Omari/Distefano ITA and Roble/Shea USA. In the Nacra-17, Iker Martinez/Olga Maslivets ESP advanced on rank 1 overall with a 2nd race rank, one point ahead of the previous leader Ben Saxton/Nicola Boniface GBR. The Olympic Champions Santiago Lange/Cecilia Carranza ARG moved up on rank 3. All other classes sailed their last fleetraces.
The qualifications for today's Medal Races were concluded yesterday with the last race again held in very light winds.
Racing at the 420 CIMA on the Etang de Berre continued yesterday with 3 races held in moderate winds. With a 31 point lead, Jonathan Steindle/Leonardo Honold GER will hardly loose to top rank during today's last races. Sacha Baraz/Yanick Flandorffer FRA follow on rank 2. Natascha and Samira Rast SUI, the best girls' team on rank 3, have to fight for leur medal against Maxim Dneprov/Luis Zimmerli SUI and Achille Casco/Eliott Schick SUI on the ranks 4 and 5.
Two races were concluded yesterday on Lake Garda, with a leader change on top, as Richard Schultheiss MLT had a downer (rank 24) and was replaced on top by the Optimist World Champion Marco Gradoni ITA. On rank 3 followes Alex Demurtas ITA. The best North Americans are now Audrey Foley (Lauderdale YC) USA on rank 75, Alejandro Beckmann Riquelme (CN El Balis) MEX on rank 108 and Claire Ramsey (RNSYS) CAN on 134 among the 991 participants. 
Two Slalom runs were completed on the second day of the Swiss Cup in Hyères FRA and twice, Daniel Aeberli SUI was the winner taking over the overall rankings ahead of Massimiliano Loncrini ITA and Daniel Slijk NED on the ranks 2 and 3. Richard Stauffacher SUI remains on rank 4. 
Two races were held on Cannes Bay yesterday at the first round of the 5o5 Europa Cup 2019 annual series. Quirk/Needham AUS defended their lead two points ahead of Hamlin/Nelson USA. Pinnel/Russ GBR and Hunger/Jess GER follow on the ranks 3 and 4. 31 teams racing. 
The Laser Youth Meeting on Lake Garda was concluded yesterday with 6 races.
Unfortunately, neither results nor information have been posted on the 
Yesterday, 'Sorcha' of Peter Harrison GBR concluded the 2019 Voiles de St-Barths as first overall in the Maxi-1 division having won all 5 races ahead of 'SHK Scallywag' of David Witt HKG. In the smaller Maxi-2, 'Windfall' of Michael Cotter IRL finished on top. The CSA-1 winner is 'Kuka3' of Franco Niggeler SUI.
Mariella of Carlo Falcone, a 1938 79-foot Alfred Mylne Yawl, took the line honours for the Common Course in an elapsed time of 2hrs 30min ahead of Seefalke II of Oliver Greensmith, a 1936 41-foot Rasmussen Sloop and Peter von Seestermuehe of Christoph von Reibnitz, a 1936 59-foot Henry Gruber Yawl. 
Yesterday, the 'windiest' - however shifty and puffy - conditions prevailed in Genoa with 6-9kn allowing all classes to race. The 49ers, 49ersFX and Nacras 17 concluded their qualification series, the other classes will have their last fleetraces today Saturday. 
Finally, the wind conditions proved to be somewhat better in Genoa and the Lasers succeeded to complete three races yesterday.
The CIMA in Marseillan FRA went on yesterday with the first two Final Series races of the Gold- and Silverfleets. 
Winning the two races of their groups, Richard Schultheis MLT and Marco Gradoni ITA share the overall lead in the huge Optimist Juniores fleet, one point ahead of Caspar Ilgenstein GER with two race wins as well. The 
A fresh Eastwind from the shore prevailed on Almanarre Bay yesterday at the traditional season opening of the Swiss Windsurfers. Two Slalom heats were concluded with Toni Wilhelm GER leading one point ahead of the junior Jakob Kooij NED. Richard Stauffacher SUI follows as best Swiss on rank 4 among the 60 participants from 6 nations. 
Good sailing conditions with a fresh Eastwind prevailed yesterday in Cannes for the first event of the 5o5 Europacup 2019. Leading after three races are Quirk/Needham AUS one point ahead of Hamlin/Nelson USA. On rank 3 another point behind follow Pinnel/Russ GBR. 
21 classes participate in the traditional Spi Ouest Regatta in Morbihan FRA. 
Yesterday, the wind conditions at the Wordcup Series in Genoa were again light (5-7kn), but for the first time sufficient for seven of the eight classes present to complete at least one race. 
After two days, six races have been completed already on the Etang de Berre FRA. Jonathan Steidle/Leonhard Honold GER and Ange Delerce/Timothé Rossi FRA share the lead at equal points. Natascha and Samira Rast SUI are on the 3rd rank. 76 teams participate. 
Yesterday, the Optimist International Cup was concluded in La Rochelle FRA. Today, teamracing is on the program. 
The first two races of the Lake Garda Optimist Meeting were sailed yesterday in a 12-14kn wind.
The Single-Handed Race on the eve of the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta was held yesterday with 11 beautiful classic yachts in a one-hour race along the south coast of Antigua. with moderate trade wind conditions of 14-16 knots, and a relatively smooth sea state. Skippers raced solo without the use of auto-pilot, but were allowed an observer on board, who could not participate in sailing. --- The Dykstra 44 Willpower of Don Ward took line honours in the Spirit of Tradition Class but after time correction was third. Tanner Jones racing the 1963 Jack Holt 28-foot sloop Rita was second, and the winner was the 1989 Six Metre Biwi Magic , sailed by Tony Sayer. --- The Single-Handed Race took place on the eve of Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, starting today Friday with four days of full fleet racing. --- The 
Again a day with almost no wind in Genoa yesterday, and it can hardly be understood, why the innocent World Sailing (responsible as Organising Authority) dislocated the European Worldcup event from the wind-safe Hyères FRA with its perfect infrastructure and organisation to this wind-risky Italian major city. 
Three races were sailed in the Final Series of the Spring Cup in La Rochelle FRA with the fleet split in Gold and Silver rounds. 
Yesterday, the first major 420 Regatta was kicked off in Marseillan FRA on the Etang de Berre in moderate winds. Unfortunately, neither results nor information have been posted on the 
As a prelude to the Optimist Lake Garda Meetings, the Nations Trophy was held with one representative per country racing. After three races, the local Alexis Demurtas ITA was the winner ahead of Caspar Ilgenstein GER and Henrik Puolakka FIN. 36 nations from 5 continents were present. --- The 
For yesterday’s tricky Round the Island race, local knowledge paid off for the race veterans that knew how to successfully navigate the challenges on the 24–32nm courses around St-Barth’s rocky cliffs in a 12–15kn northeasterly with 30° wind shifts. 
The International Optimist Cup in La Rochelle FRA continued yesterday with two races.
Over the past weekend, the Swan-Cup was held in Monaco with 14 Swans 42, 45 and 50 on the starting line. Only three races could be completed within 4 days, as the winds remained mostly absent. 
Yesterday, Round 3 of the Olympic Classes Worldcup was kicked off in Genoa ITA in sunshine and light winds varying from 5-12kn. Eight of the ten Olympic Classes were present with the RS:X windsurfers missing. On the opening day, the speed classes were active with two races for the 49ers and one race for the Nacra-17 (one group with a second race). 
The Optimist International Cup in La Rochelle FRA continued yesterday with three races with good results by Swiss participants for whom this event counts for the World- and European Championship qualifiction. 
Perfect conditions prevailed yesterday at the start of the 10th anniversary edition of Les Voiles de St-Barth for the 66 entrants in nine classes racing around the west side of St-Barth on racecourses ranging from 24 – 36 nautical miles in 15 – 20 knots of breeze. Read the 
The third Olympic Classes Worldcup Regatta begins today in Genoa ITA, the last event of the 2018/9 series that will be concluded in Marseille FRA in early June. Genoa has been selected for the first time by World Sailing instead of Hyères FRA for 2019 to avoid to have two events in the South of France. 
Yesterday, the 400 Laser Standard, Radial and 4.7 sailors concluded the Laser Europacup on Hyères Bay with the last races, the windiest ones with a 12-14kn breeze. 
The international Optimist Cup in La Rochelle was kicked off yesterday with two races.
Both Finals of the Matchracing Nations Cup in San Francisco saw French teams as winners with Pauline Courtois FRA defeating Nicole Breault USA 3-0 and Maxime Mesnil FRA winning over Henrique Haddad BRA 3-1. 
Charleston Race Week concluded in spectacular fashion with strong winds producing exciting action and several classes being decided during the last race. Skipper Travis Weisleder USA rallied to victory in Melges 24 class, which attracted 37 entries. Joel Ronning and his Catapult crew secured a surprisingly convincing victory in J/70 class, largest of the regatta with 56 boats.
The J/70 Battle with 35 teams completing 9 races on Lake Constance was won by Veit Hemmeter GER ahead of Klaus Diesch GER and Nico Mittermaier GER. Excellent conditions prevailed with a 3-4 bft Northeasterly ... only the temperatures on almost the freezing point were rather uncomfortable.
The European Championship of the Olympic RS:X Windsurfer Class was concluded yesterday with the Medal Races of the ten best and the sail-offs for the rest of the fleets. 
After two premature start disqualifications, the leading Mario Novak CRO dropped on rank 11 overall. New on top is Dominik Perkovic CRO, best of the day with the ranks 1 and 2. Nathan Le Pen FRA on the 2nd place is already 19 points behind. Nikita Melnikov RUS and Leonhard Stock GER follow on 3rd and 4th at equal points. The 
Team 'CEREEF' of Igor Lah SLO with Adrian Stead GBR calling the shots remained on top of the overall rankings ahead of 'Team Nika' of Vladimir Prosikhin RUS (with Tom Slingsby AUS) and 'Team Aqua' of Chris Bake GBR (with Cameron Appleton NZL). This first Round of the 2019 RC44 Series was concluded yesterday in Montenegro/Adriatic Sea with 3 races. 
Joel Ronning, Excelsior, MN, USA and his team dominated the J/70 with four bullets yesterday taking the overall lead 19 points ahead of Pamela Rose, Aventura, FL, USA on 2nd. Tied on 3rd and 4th another 6 points back are Buddy Cribb, Jupiter, FL, USA and Henry Brauer, Marblehead, MA, USA. The J/70s are the largest fleet with 52 boats. --- In the Melges 24 (35 boats), Bruce Ayres, Newport Beach, CA, USA remains on top ahead of Kevin Welch, Anacortes, WA, USA 3 points back on 2nd and Brian Porter, Fontana, Wi, USA another 3 points behind on 3rd. --- In the VX One (30 boats), Michelle Warner, Boulder, CO, USA is first just one point ahead of Christopher Alexander, Ocean Springs, MS, USA and another 7 points behind Greg Fisher, Mt Pleasant, SC, USA. --- Yesterday Saturday, the breeze built throughout the day and organizers got in four races again - two light air starts in the morning followed by two medium breeze starts in the afternoon. Most importantly, all the racing was fair and fell into the category of quality. --- All 
Pauline Courtois FRA, Nicole Breault USA, Anna Östling SWE and Juliana Senfft BRA advanced to the Semi Finals in the Women fleet yesterday. Allie Blecher USA and Clare Costanzo finished 5th and 6th overall. 
Hamish Calder, Dorking, Surrey, GBR and his team are leading after the three races held on Saturday tied with David Franks, Cowes/Isle of Wight, GBR. William McNeill, Bournemouth, Dorset, GBR follows on 3rd with a 9-point backlog. Charlie Manzoni and his team another point behind are the best Corinthians. 
The last Final Series races yesterday were held in a 10-12kn very unsteady Palma seabreeze filling in late in the morning. 
Lull conditions prevailed yesterday at the Laser Europacup in Hyères and only the Standards and Radial completed at least one race that stirred the ranking lists up.
Yesterday, the Charleston Race Week began for the 18 One-design and PHRF Classes with 4 races sailed in a 10-20kn wind. The J/70s are the largest fleet with 52 boats and the first leader is Buddy Cribb USA and his team ahead of Joel Running USA. Bruce Ayres USA is on top of the Melges 24 with a 4-point lead on Travis Weisleder USA. 
The best six of the male and female fleets continued the Nations Cup Final yesterday in San Francisco in another round robin. In the Women, Pauline Courtois FRA won all 5 duels and leads ahead of Anna Östling SWE (4-1). In the Open/Men fleet, Maxime Mesnil FRA and James Hodgson AUS are on top with 3-1 wins. Day 4 of racing on Saturday, April 13, will see the completion of the double round robin in stage 3, followed by the semi-finals. 
Louis Giard FRA defended his lead in the RS:X men windsurfers 7 points ahead of Kiran Badloe NED. The Olympic Champion Dorian Van Rijsselberge NED is on the 3rd place. 
Attila Kovacs HUN and Ana Clavero ESP share rank 1 in the 
'Team CEREEF' of Igor Lah SLO with Adrian Stead GBR defended her lead, followed by 'Team Aqua' of Chris Baker GBR with Cameron Appleton NZL, best of the day, moving up on rank 2. On the 3rd position followed 'Peninsula Petroleum' of Chris Bassadone GBR with Ed Baird USA. Three races were completed yesteday in an initial 10kn wind increasing to up to 20kn during the day. 
Maxime Mesnil (FRA) dominated the Open Division during the second day of racing at the 2019 World Sailing Nations Cup Grand Final. In the Women’s Division Nicole Breault (USA) and Pauline Courtois (FRA) continued to rack up wins through the afternoon, sailing into a late afternoon face-off with seven wins each; the eighth was Breault’s. The 
