18ft VelamareSkiff Cup at Sardinia - Day 1
by Peter Danby 7 Jun 2005 08:49 BST
5-10 June 2005
Ideal conditions for the first day of the 18ft VelamareSkiff Cup at Sardinia © Peter Danby
Perfect 18 foot Skiff sailing conditions of brilliant sunshine and a 20 knot breeze complimented the beauty of the Golfo della Saline to get this championship off to flying start yesterday (Sunday).
The lusty Danish team of Flemming Clausen, Thomas Ebler and Soren Clausen, who love a strong breeze, made a superb start in Race 1 on ‘GP Covers’ and opened up a huge lead after taking advantage of a wind bend from the shore to round the first mark well clear of the large fleet.
Early pursuers included Andy Richards, Andrew Fairley and Dave Richards who were the winners of the opening round of the Euro Grand Prix at Carnac in Brittany on ‘Radii’ and the winners on this event in Sardinia last year, Australians John Winning, Andrew Hay and Geoff Beauchop on ‘Yandoo’.
By the conclusion of the race, the ‘Yandoo’ team had established themselves at the head of affairs, and were followed home by fellow Australians Grant Rollerson, David Cunningham and Chris Cleary on ‘Rag & Famish Hotel’ who had moved well through the fleet.
The Danes on ‘GP Cover’ were third, ahead of ‘Radii’. In a breeze of this strength 18 footers are probably the most unforgiving of boats, and very small mistakes are punished with major losses of
distance, while larger mistakes result in inevitable capsizes. Most teams were affected at one time or another; some more frequently than others.
By the time Race 2 was started the breeze had built a little more, which made things even
more spectacular and the speeds even higher. This time, the American team of Howie Hamlin, Mike Martin and Trent Barnabas, who had experienced a couple of problems in the first race on ‘Pegasus Racing’ sailed impeccably to win from yet another Australian team revelling in the tough conditions, Andy Cuddihy, Dennis Brent and Gerard Smith on ‘Fisher & Paykel’. In third place was the German team of Mike Keser, Christoph Muller and Thomas Eggersdorfer who sailed a good steady race on ‘Space Models. The Scotsmen on ‘Radii’ again finished fourth.
It had been a fantastic day for spectators and the very best of the sailors, but a little hard on some of the teams. However, nobody was complaining, because this is what skiff sailing is all about. Racing continues until Friday.
Race 1 Results:
1. ‘Yandoo’ John Winning, Andrew Hay and Geoff Beauchop AUS
2. ‘Rag & Famish’ Grant Rollerson, David Cunningham and Chris Cleary AUS
3. ‘GP Covers’ Flemming Clausen, Thomas Ebler and Soren Clausen, DEN
4. ‘Radii’ Andy Richards, Andrew Fairley and Dave Richards, GBR
5. ‘Fisher & Paykel’ Andy Cuddihy, Dennis Brent and Gerard Smith, AUS
Race 2 Results:
1. ‘Pegasus Racing’ Howie Hamlin, Mike Martin and Trent Barnabas, USA
2. ‘Fisher & Paykel’ Andy Cuddihy, Dennis Brent and Gerard Smith, AUS
3. ‘Space Models’ Mike Keser, Christoph Muller and Thomas Eggersdorfer, GER
4. ‘Radii’ Andy Richards, Andrew Fairley and Dave Richards, GBR
5. ‘Barron & Smithers’ Peter Barton, Martin Borrett and Ian Turnbull