J Class yachts at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia - Day 3
by J Class Association 3 Sep 2014 21:15 BST
1-6 September 2014
The omens look increasingly favourable for the Rainbow crew which completed their race win double today, adding victory in today's 31 miles coastal race to their windward-leeward triumph of Tuesday to ease two points ahead of Lionheart on the overall J Class standings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup off Costa Smeralda.
Rainbow showed very good speed again in the light to moderate breezes, made smart tactical choices and anticipated and dealt smoothly with the key transitions along the familiar course clockwise around Sparga island.
As they usually do when racing on these waters, Rainbow's taciturn Italian double act Michele Ivaldi and Francesco de Angelis, moved to squash any suggestion that they might have any extra local knowledge from having sailed here so long and so often. But to watch them guide Rainbow around the craggy NE tip of the Sparga island, within metres of the shore – gaining their leading J Class an extra 70 or 80 metres on their pursuers because they saved an extra tack on the boats behind – kind of refutes their protestations that all their rival afterguards know the La Maddalena archipelago just as well.
"There are always challenges and it is always different. It is never like you can just draw out a map that says 'tack here', 'go here', everyone else knows it like we do." Claimed de Angelis, Italy's Louis Vuitton Cup winning skipper-helm.
When they made that key move they placed themselves out of reach of the preying Lionheart on what proved to be very much a soldier's course. There was a short upwind after the start followed by a longer light wind run down to the entrance to the sound but up the outside of the Sparga island there it was a simple two tacks, devoid of options, often just testing boatspeed and sail changing through the interfaces between the different wind zones.
The tactical first beat with the breeze well to the right saw Lionheart make a strong start but they wrongly erred left and struggled around the top mark in fourth. It seemed to make no difference to Ranger that they were late off the line as they very quickly got in phase with the change and were able to lead around the turn. But Ranger carried on for too long on the starboard gybe towards Caprera Island and ran out of breeze. Rainbow recognised that the wind was dying there, gybed early stayed with the pressure and were able to take the lead. After that they were never passed. Lionheart made steady gains, powering past Ranger in the flat water, two sail reaching conditions, but Rainbow ultimately proved untouchable again.
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"The first run was important because the wind was shifting and there were calm patches, potholes to avoid, but then after that through the islands there were many holes and shifts and it is easy to get trapped and slowed. It is never easy. We gained at the top of the island and we did not lose when the winds went light, we anticipated that well. After that we kept it all in good shape when there were no more parking lots." de Angelis recalled.
He continued: "The boat is going nicely. It is only our second regatta this season so we are really still learning how to sail as a team together." "It would be nice if every time here it was the same but it is not."
And of extending their lead overall he adds: "It is such long way to go in the regatta, day by day is our way. As for the lay day tomorrow....we are waiting to see what we are doing, that's for the boss to decide." De Angelis grins.
www.yccs.it/it/regate-2014/207-maxi-yacht-rolex-cup-mini-maxi-rolex-world-championship-2014.html