The Rolex Farr 40 Pre-Worlds provided plenty of warm-up action on the race course in preparation for the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, which starts on Wednesday, 29 August and continues through Saturday, 1 September, with thirty-six teams from twelve countries competing. Commodore Matt Allen reports on the Pre-Worlds from Denmark.
A hectic last day with many general recalls and Zulu Flags and some Black Flags! Every time the starting line was set the wind shifted, pity the poor PRO! We got the Z Flag on the first race of day 2 as did many other yachts. Z flag only carried a 10% penalty.
We sailed well in race 3 until the last run when we sailed into hole with no wind and watched eight boats sail past, when combined with the Zulu flag gave us a forgettable 23 points. We ended up in second place with a total of 49 points at the end of the regatta.
The last two races went well for us with a second and a first. Cocko (Michael Coxon) was doing a great job at the back not only picking the shifts of 30 degrees but seeing the pressure veins as well, not an easy job. Seve Jarvin was assisting with strategy, great to see a former YSA yachtsman working at this level.
When we finished we had no idea of overall results after the last race as we thought Twins (3,3,bfd,7,12 62. France) was ahead but we didn’t know about their black flag! They ended up seventh. Alingi had come good on day two to have a 17,15, Bfd, 11,6 for 86 points but even they could not carry the black flag and ended up seventeenth. Opus One was also up there with a 6, 24, 5, 13,2, 50, the fifth was with a Z flag penalty so they ended up third overall, certainly a boat to watch later this week.
When we got to the dock it was Barking Mad 1st on 37 points with a 1, 8, 13, 4, 13. Ichi Ban came in second with a 5, 18, 23 (with Z), 2, 1 49 points.
Rest today and back into it tomorrow (Monday).
Many yachts can win this regatta, Jim Richardson on Barking Mad with Terry Hutchinson are always dangerous. Opus One looked very strong although they took a lot of risks at times, but they normally won when they did. Nerone gets Vasco Vascotto back this week and they know how to win, and then there is Alinghi’s Brad Butterworth et al. If they get their eye in next week look out!
Twins from France also looks very quick and they won the Mumm 30 Worlds recently and were unlucky not to win this week, and I almost forgot Mascalzone Latino, last year’s world champions, who get Ado Stead back as tactician this week! The competition in this class is what makes it so great.
The Aussies did well with Sputnik in sixth and sailing very well, Hooligan did not have Marcus steering on day 1 due to a bout of the flu but they came good on day 2 to get an eleventh including two fourths on day 2. Kokomo, the star Aussie boat all year, had a lesser result given their very high standards recently and came in twenty first. I’m sure they will bounce back very quickly this week.
Upwind I think we are have regained our speed, we can hold our height and not give up speed to do so, downwind we are as good as the spinnaker we put up. As we have only had mastheads since January, the development still has some way to go and we have been saving our faster designs until the Worlds.
Bring on Wednesday, day 1 of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships!
Place, Boat Name, Owner, Country, R1-R2-R3-R4-R5, Total points
1. Barking Mad, James Richardson (USA) 1-8-11-4-13, 37 points
2. Ichi Ban, Matt Allen (AUS) 5-18-23-2-1, 49
3. Opus One, Wolfgang Stolz (GER) 6-24-5-13-2, 50
4. Monick – Tuborg, David Holm (DEN) 13-17-8-3-14, 55
5. Nerone, Antonio Sodo Migliori (ITA) 7-7-6-10-28, 58
6. Sputnik, Ivan Wheen (AUS) 12-27-5-12-3, 59
7. Twins, Erik Maris (FRA) 3-3-37BFD-7-12, 62
8. Mascalzone Latino, Vincenzo Onorato (ITA) 9-6-25-8-18, 66
9. Baloo 110, Jens Erik Host (DEN) 26-13-16-5-7, 67
10 Groovederci, John Demourkas (USA) 4-16-11-27-16, 74
