Friday, October 19, 2018
F18-Catamaran - World Championship 2018 - Sarasota FL, USA - Day 4
The F18-Worlds in Florida continued yesterday with another two races, and again, the leaders Iordanis Paschalidis/Konstantinos Trigonis GRE won one and extended their overall advantage on 15 points. Michael Easton/Trip Burd USA moved up on rank 2. Hans Van Dam/Marius Van Dam NED are new on the 3rd place.The ranking list.
Yesterday was day one of the penultimate Act of the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series off the San Diego downtown skyline with 'Alinghi' of Arnaud Psarofaghis SUI winning 4 of the 6 races sailed. With Phil Robertson NZL ('Oman Air') and Adam Minoprio NZL ('SAP Extreme Sailing Team'), experienced teams are on the ranks 2 and 3. 
The Melges-32 World Championship began yesterday in Cagliari / Sardinia ITA with two races sailed in a 15kn with and big swell, and - finishing 1 and 4 - the defending Champion Pavel Kuzsnetsov RUS (tactics Jewgenij Neugodnikov RUS) has already taken the lead. Matteo Balestrero ITA (Branko Brcin SLO) and Martin Rientjies ITA (Gabriele Benussi ITA) follow on the ranks 2 and 3 at equal points. 
The 2018 Finn National Swiss Championship off Morges / Lake Geneva began yesterday with two races sailed in light and unconstant winds. Finishing twice on rank 2, Jürgen Eiermann GER has taken the overall lead ahead of Jiri Outrata CZE. Nils Theuninck SUI follows on the 3rd place witha 5 points' backlog. 41 participants from 5 nations are present. 
Two more races were held yesterday at the F18-Worlds in Florida, and with another race win, Iordanis Paschalidis/Konstantinos Trigonis GRE extended their lead on 8 points. Brett Burvill/Max Puttman AUS and Michael Easton/Tripp Burd USA kept their ranks 2 and 3.
Teh second-last Act of the 2018 GC32 Extreme Sailing Series begins in San Diego CA today and the situation on top of the 
The F18 Worlds continued in Sarasota FL yesterday with three races sailed in a good 13kn seabreeze. The new leaders are Iordanis Paschalidis/ Konstantinos Trigonis GRE with two bullets yesterday, ahead of Brett Burvill/ Max Puttman AUS 5 points back on rank 2. Michael Easton/Trip Burd USA follow on the 3rd place. On the way up is the Olympic medalist Mitch Booth ESP (former AUS) with son Ruben Booth ESP. 77 teams participate. 
Last Sunday, the 2018/9 Australian 18-Footer Season was initialised on Sydney Harbour with the Spring Championship. Until March, every Sunday (with few exceptions), a regatta will be held, including spectator boats and betting offices.
After the Melges-20-Worlds held in Calgari ITA last week, the Melges 32 World Championship will follow with 
68 teams from 14 nations are on the entry list of the 2018 F18 Worlds in Sarasota FL The light winds on the opening day allowed for only one race, won by Brett Burvill/Max Puttnam AUS ahead of the multiple Tornado World Champions Iordanis Paschalidis/ Konstantinos Trigonis GRE and Hans Van Dam/ Marius Van Dam NED.
The 52nd edition of the Starboat Trofeo d'Amicizia on Lake Garda was concluded on Sunday morning after 5 races completed in 3 days. Mario Borroi ITA/Frithjof Kleen GER finished as winners ahead of Roberto Benamati/Alberto Ambrosini ITA and Albino Fravezzi/Fabio Fravezzi ITA on rank 2 at equal points. 23 teams from 7 nations participated.
Good sailing conditions prevailed yesterday off Trieste ITA were the "largest regatta world-wide" was held. In a fast race, 'Portopiccolo' of Fabio Benussi ITA was the winner after 57 minutes only. The 
After the Nacra-15-cats on Saturday, the Kiteboarders were the last event to close the 2018 Youth Olympics in San Isidro ARG wiht the best eight qualified for the Final to race for the Medals in one race. 
Yesterday, the Eastwind exceeding 20kn and big waves in Toulon FRA were again too much for the GC32 foiling catamarans and the competition ended without further races. 
A fresh but variable 12 to 20k wind prevailed on the Chesapeak Choptank during the final day of the 2018 Star World Championship. Started to the last race with an 8 points' advantage, Jorge Zarif/Guilherme Almeida BRA defended his lead and grasped the title. At the age of 26, the Finn Olympian is the youngest Star World Champion of the last years. Silver and Bronze went to the defending champion Eidvind Melleby/Joshua Revkin NOR/USA and Paul Cayard/Arthur Lopes USA. 
After the windsurfers on Friday, theNacra-15-catamarans terminted their competition, and as expected, the local favorites Dante Cittadini/Teresa Romairone ARG earned the Gold Medal on their home waters. Thanks to a race win, Titouan Petard/Kenza Coutard FRA moved up on rank 2. Bronze went to Laila Van der Meer/Bjarne Bower NED. Inspite of an excellent 2nd race rank in the final race, 
Sun and a 4-5 bft Eastwind made the day perfect off the Mourillon Beach in Toulon, and the two America's Cup helmsmen Ben Ainslie GBR 'INEOS Team Uk' and Franck Cammas FRA 'Norauto' shared the race wins ... Only the Geneva 'Realteam' of Jerôme Clerc SUI back on the race course with a repaired mast could also book a bullet. In the overall rankings. Ben Ainslie GBR has now a 13 points' lead on Franck Cammas FRA and can hardly be passed in the remaining races. 'Realteam' with five races less as the fleet is now on rank 7 and can further improve the rankings today, a day again with much wind announced !
Winning the final race, the defending champion Drew Freides USA and his team climbed on top of the overall rankings and confirmed his Melges 20 Worlds' title of the previous year. The enthroned leader Filiippo Pacinotti ITA had to content himself with Silver. Igor Rytov RUS remained on rank 3. 36 teams from 12 nations and 4 continents participted. 
After the light and unconstant winds of the previous days, the Major Lake thermal breeze filled in perfectly yesterday and allowed to complete three races off Luino ITA. 
Today at 9.30h UTC in Trieste ITA, the start to the Barcolana, the Worlds arguably largest regatta with a 115-page 
Big waves and fresh winds from the just passing hurricane 'Michael' still prevailed yesterday at the Star Worlds on the Chesapeak-Bay and racing had to be postponed. Today, closing day of the Championship, two races are on the program.
The Youth Olympic Regatta 2018 in San Isidro ARG was concluded yesterday. The entire Techno-293-Windsurfer fleet sailed a Medal race while the Nacra-15 catamarans completed three fleetraces. The Kiteboarders could not sail due to a too light wind. 
The last Round of the GC32 Racing Tour was initiated in Toulon FRA yesterday with 5 races sailed in sun and moderate winds between 12 and 15kn. Ben Ainslie GBR and his 'INEOS Racing Team' (a.o. with the Olympic Champions Giles Scott GBR (Finn) and Ian Jensen AUS (49er) dominated the da with 3 bullets and 2 second ranks. Bad luck for the Geneva 'Realteam' with Jerôme Clerc SUI, who - leading the first race - dismasted and could not sail the following races, as their spare mast had been damaged the day before. It remains to be seen, whether they could fix it overnight to continue the competition. Surprisingly, the Australian '.film-Team' pf Simon Delzoppo AUS (with Sébastien Col FRA as tactician), first in the owner-driver rankings, is on rank 2. Erik Maris FRA with his 'Zoulou' and the Racing Tour leader Franck Cammas FRA follow on the ranks 3 and 4 at equal points. 
Good sailing conditions in Cagliari ITA yesterday allowing to complete another three races. Filippo Pancinotti ITA (tactics Manu Weiller ESP) defended his lead with a race win. Igor Rytov RUS (tactics Igor Basputin RUS) and the defending champion Drew Frides USA (with Morgan Reeser USA) follow on the ranks 2 and 3.
With the hurricane 'Michael' passing, racing was postponed during the past two days, the 2018 Sunfish World Championship was concluded yesterday with only 6 races completed. Jean Paul de Trazegnies PER won overall while Simon Gomez-Ortiz COL finished first in the 2018 youth rankings. 
The final Act of the Melges 24 European Series began yesterday on Lage Maggiore ITA with 2 races. 
Yesterday afternoon, the classic Starboat Trofeo d'Amicizia on Lake Garda was scheduled to begin, but apparently, the wind was absent, and the first races will take place this morning in the northerly Vento. 
To catch up with the program, two races were held at the Star Worlds in Oxford MD in an intial 14kn breeze, slackening on 6kn during the day. 
The Kite- and Windsurfer sailed three races each yesterday, the Nacra-15-catamarans had their lay day. 
With 10-15kn, the winds were down on moderate yesterday, but the Eastwind passing the day before left a big 2-meter swell behind was considered too large for the nimble flying catamarans to race safely on day one of the GC32 TPM Med Cup. Racing was postponed on today, first start at 11.30h UTC. The rainy weather with a moderate easterly breeze should stay according to the meteo. 
Only one last race instead of the planned three was held yesterday at the Laser European Masters at the Spanish Westcoast as a rain front passing by noon delayed racing. 
With the first races postponed on Wednesday due to a passing thunderstorm, the Melges-20 Worlds were kicked-off yesterday with three races sailed in moderate winds and a big swell. 
Yesterday, after two windless days, the first two races could be sailed at the Star World Championship in Oxford MD in moderte winds. 
Three races were held again yesterday at the Youth Olympics in Argentina in somewhat lighter winds compared to the previous days. 
The Laser European Masters continued yesterday in Vigo ESP with two races per class, sailed in moderate winds. 
In Toulon FRA, the last Round of the GC32 Catamaran Racing Tour is on the program. The depression zone residing over the South of France will produce fresh Eastwinds of up to 30kn until Sunday and much spectacle can be expected. 
Yesterday, the start to race 1 of the 2018 Melges 20 World Championship in Calgari ITA was postponed on today due to a meteorological alert issued to the Race Committee. The 37 entrants from 11 nations have been called for 11h UTC (warning signal) today for the first of the 10 scheduled races to be held October 10-13. Defending World Champion is Drew Freides’ Pacific Yankee team USA with Morgan Reeser USA and Charlie Smythe USA. 
Good sailing conditions prevailed on the Rio de la Plata in Argentina yesterday allowing to complete the full program at the Youth Olympics.
Note enough wind for race one on day 2 of the Star Worlds in Oxford MD USA. Today at 17h UTC, the start to the first of two heats shall be given, and again, 
Very light conditions prevailed at the Laser European Masters and only the 
On day 2 of the Youth Olympics in Argentina, the Nacra-15 catamarans and kiteboarders joined the competition. 
Yesterday, Race one of the 2018 Star Worlds had to be postponed on today, as the anticipated light winds failed to be sufficient for racing on the Choptank River. The 62 teams from 12 nations representing 13 out of the total 15 districts of the International Star Class and 41 out of its 79 total fleets had to remain in harbour. 
Only late in the afternoon, one race could be sailed at the Spanish Atlantic Coast yesterday. The second heat had to be abandoned in the slackening winds. 
Good Lake Garda conditions prevailed in Torbole over the past weekend at the Dragon H.D. Wagner Cup. Seven races were completed in 3 days.
Yesterday was day one of the 3rd Youth Olympic Sailing Competition being held in Argentina from October 7th to 13th with 44 nations attending. The selected events this time are Girls' and Boys' Windsurfing on the Techno 293, Girls' and Boys' Kiteboarding and Mixed Nacra-15 sailing. 
The 2018 General Meeting of World Sailing will take place in Sarasota FL from October 27 to November 4. Not only the very disputed proposals for Olympic events as from 2024 (Paris/Marseille) - elimination of the Laser, Finn, 470, RS:X Windsurfer, etc - will be decided, but also some general questions about Management and the Financial Situation of the World Federation - excessive Adminstration, too high running costs, commericialisation, not enough sponsors, i.e. a huge deficit - will be debated. 
No wind on the last day of the Sylt GER Super Grand Slam again and racing was cancelled for the day. Herewith, the World Champions for 2018 are in the Men'd Slalom Antoine Albeau FRA (his 25th Worlds title) and in the Kite-Foil-Course Racing Gonzalo Costa-Hoevel ARG. Event winners in Sylt were Sara-Quita Offringa ARU/NED in the Women's Wave-Contest, Mateo Iachino ITA (in Kite-Foiling) and Pierre Mortefon FRA in Men's Slalom. 
Yesterday, the Laser European Masters began at the Spanish Atlantic Coast with two races sailed in moderate conditions. 
No wind on the last day of the J/70 German National Championship on Lake Constance as well, and the Champion had to be proclaimed based on the 4 races concluded on the opening day. 
No wind on Lake Bienne yesterday at the A-Cat Class Championship and the results after two races became final with André Casanova FRA and Loïc Dony FRA on top. First Swiss after the French duo was Peter Huber SUI/SCH on the 3rd placed. The Championship was not validated, as the 4 heats required were not completed. 
