Krys Ocean Race Prologue - Newport to New York - Finish

Race for Water wins the KRYS OCEAN RACE prologue race © MOD70 Race For Water

Race For Water wins

Steve Ravussin and crew of the MOD70 Race for Water won the 'race to New York', KRYS OCEAN RACE prologue from Newport to New York when they passed Groupe Edmond de Rothschild in the final half mile to the finish line.

Ravussin, one of the founders of the MOD70 class, could not contain his delight as he hugged his crew, which included class President Marco Simeoni.

In very light winds, Ravussin and his team looked to have slowed badly on the Coney Island shore, snared in a big calm zone. But when they extracted themselves they were able to sail a more direct course, accelerating past the race leader to steal a morale boosting first gun, just ahead of Seb Josse's team which lead out of Newport last night.

Race For Water completed the course in 12 hours, 53 minutes and 20 seconds, just 2 minutes and 30 seconds ahead of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild. Spindrift racing skippered by Yann Guichard closed in on 3rd with FONCIA right behind. Musandam-Oman Sail brings to a conclusion the prologue from Newport to New York after sixteen hours of racing.

The fleet completes the race with a parade sail up the Hudson River to their base at North Cove Marina in on the South of Manhattan, where the trimarans will be based until the start of the KRYS OCEAN RACE on Saturday 7th July.

Provisional Results:

1) Race For Water (Stève Ravussin) finised at 12h53'20'' (CET)
2) Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (Sébastien Josse) finished at 12h55'50'' (CET)
3) Spindrift racing (Yann Guichard) finished at 13h35'08'' (CET)
4) FONCIA (Michel Desjoyeaux) finished at 13h38'44'' (CET)
5) Musandam-Oman Sail (Sidney Gavignet) finised at 14h04'01'' (CET)

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Race for Water squeeze a win into the Big Apple (from Race for Water)

Given that they had two of the proud founders of the MOD70 circuit on board, it was perhaps appropriate that Race For Water lead the KRYS OCEAN RACE fleet into New York City today, winning a slightly slow, but testing, 150 miles prologue race – the inaugural contest for the current MOD70 fleet - which started with an exciting sprint out of Newport last night.

Given that they had two of the proud founders of the MOD70 circuit on board, it was perhaps appropriate that Race For Water lead the KRYS OCEAN RACE fleet into New York City today, winning a slightly slow, but testing, 150 miles prologue race – the inaugural contest for the current MOD70 fleet - which started with an exciting sprint out of Newport last night.

Race For Water, skippered by Stève Ravussin, along with his young crew and Multi One Design President Marco Simeoni as guest on board, had put their faith in the Long Island shore early this morning. And with less than one mile to the finish - in benign conditions more reminiscent of their native Swiss lakes - they were blessed with an extra measure of thermal breeze which allowed them to bear down more directly towards the line, accelerating to the finish. They stole a morale boosting victory, overtaking Seb Josse and the Groupe Edmond de Rothschild team in the dying minutes of the race.

There are no championship points awarded for the prologue which was predominantly raced in around 10kts of breeze, with much less during the small hours of what proved to be a long, and at times slow night.

Though it was Ravussin, sailing boat number 1, which placed first, four of the five different boats all had a turn in the lead at some stage through the passage, each successively staking a claim to victory until the balance swung between the consistent early advantage offshore finally to the inshore, Coney Island line when the thermal effects helped out. In contrast, several of the offshore teams reported later that they had underestimated the strength of the contrary current in relation to the light breeze.

And while most had had a shot at winning during the race, the win for Race for Water was a popular result, a nice bonus for some of the prime movers in the MOD 70 initiative. Just as they have lead from the front in pulling this ambitious project together, so too it was pleasing to see them lead from the front, getting first bite of the Big Apple.

In fact the most thrilling part of the prologue was Monday night’s start out of Newport, where the preliminary circuit in Narranganset Bay saw the five MOD70’s jostling spectacularly for position in an early evening breeze. In 12-15kts of wind they surged to over 20kts of boat speed at times, before they exited the bay into dying winds.

“In fact the best speed of the race was at the start, reaching at 26 knots, it was spectacular, what a way to leave Newport.” Commented Ravussin, “ But after that, never fast again! It was light, but it was a very interesting race because all the time the speeds of all the boats were the same. During the night we could see all the boats. I think it was a nice race.”

“ Always we were third until we chose the land side of the course this morning, because there was no wind and we wanted to find the thermal breeze. And that was a hard choice because for one or two hours there was no wind. After that the wind came in and we got there in front.”

“Sure it is always nice to win, even if it is just the prologue. We have not sailed very much together, only doing the Transatlantic as a crew. So we have speed, we were fighting with the other guys, it is a good deal!” said Ravussin.

“When we see all the boats here in such an incredible setting, in among these skyscrapers, when were thinking about this three years ago, I am so very happy to be here with five boats. It is real now and it feels fantastic.”

Race For Water crossed the finish line just shy of the Verrazano Bridge at 12h53’20’ local time, just 2 minutes and 30 seconds ahead of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild. Spindrift racing skippered by Yann Guichard sailed in to third with FONCIA hard on their heels. Musandam Oman Sail, which had lead the race until there was about 10 miles to the finish ran out of breeze offshore and finished fifth across the line, concluding the prologue from Newport to New York after covering the 150 miles course in around 21 hours of racing.

After the race there was a spectacular parade of sail up the Hudson River to the base at North Cove Marina in the South of Manhattan, where the five MOD70 trimarans will be based until the start of the KRYS OCEAN RACE on Saturday 7th July.

Spindrift racing takes third in New York City (from Spindrift racing)

Yann Guichard and his crew of 4 men finished in third place of the Krys Ocean Race prologue, a 120 miles regatta between Newport, Rhode Island, and New York City. Spindrift racing made the best out of the mild conditions off the coast of Long Island, leading the fleet all night long and until the very last miles. The 12 to 14 knots of north east winds soon gave way to lighter breeze as the MOD70 approached the mouth of the Hudson river. Tricky conditions reigned, with strong currents pressing Spindrift racing and Musandam - Oman sail towards the New Jersey shore, while Stève Ravussin and his Race for Water took advantage of this golden opportunity to stick to the Long Island shore and glide to victory just ahead of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (Sébastien Josse).

Yann Guichard, soon after entering North Cove Marina in Manhattan, only had praises for his boat and his crew. “It’s been a great practice run. We’re delighted with our speed. We ran an almost perfect course, yet very demanding with lots of sails changes during the night.”

Spindrift racing could only rely on a 5 men crew for this prologue. Billy Besson did not participate. Frenchman and Multihull specialist Kevin Escoffier shall arrive tomorrow to take his place. “We are therefore quite tired but “happily tired” explains skipper Guichard, “Being short one man, we’ve had to work harder and the last miles in almost no wind at all were quite demanding. It took us over 8 hours to cover 30 miles!”

Once the finish line under the Verrazano bridge crossed, the 5 great MOD70s headed for Manhattan. An absolutely magic moment for the crews and for Yann Guichard to sail past the Statue of Liberty and discover the Big Apple from the sea ; “I’ve twice left New York by boat on my way to some transatlantic record” explains Guichard. “But this is the first time ever that I get to sail into New York harbor, and it is absolutely awesome.”

Spindrift racing shall Thursday July 5th take part of the New York speed match, a two boats speed race off Manhattan. With no damages or repairs on board, the team is more than ready for Saturday’s big start of the Krys Ocean race.

Musandam-Oman Sail learning curve continues in tricky conditions in New York (from Oman Sail)

The first head-to-head between the five MOD 70s offered a glimpse of things to come in offshore multihull racing as Musandam-Oman Sail proved a worthy contender in the KRYS OCEAN RACE prologue from Newport to New York.

The first head-to-head between the five MOD 70s offered a glimpse of things to come in offshore multihull racing as Musandam-Oman Sail proved a worthy contender in the KRYS OCEAN RACE prologue from Newport to New York.

In a soft start to the MOD 70 circuit, marked by light winds and slow progress, Sidney Gavignet’s mixed crew of Omani and international sailors finished fifth in New York having covered the 120 nm course in 14 hours, four minutes and one second. Until the final few miles when the fleet passed Coney Island and the Statue of Liberty on the spectacular approach to the finish, Musandam-Oman Sail were second behind eventual winners Steve Ravussin on MOD70 Race for Water before the wind died on them to leave them becalmed.

After a tricky start on Monday, Musandam-Oman Sail had risen through the fleet to take the lead, holding onto it until just a few miles from the finish, according to British helmsman-trimmer Brian Thompson.

“We didn’t have a great start because we were fixing our winch system but we got away and within an hour we were in second place and within two hours we were in first. All night it was us and Spindrift battling for the lead, with the others up to ten miles behind.

“They went in shore and we decided to cover them but the wind died so we were both becalmed. But that is yacht racing for you. We had a really good race and learned that as a contender, we had good speed and good tactics. It was very encouraging.”

A weary skipper Sidney Gavignet (FRA) said there were many positives to take from the race but spoke of his disappointment in finishing last after making good progress among such a high class fleet.

“It is a shame because we were leading for a lot of the race but the wind dropped and the current increased and the other boats went around us in a bit more wind.

“As a team, we worked well together so I’m more confident ahead of the KRYS OCEAN RACE. The result here does not really matter but it was disappointing to finish like that and it is important that the team’s confidence was not affected because we had a very good race.

“When you consider that we were the last boat in the water only two months ago with limited experience compared to the other teams, we were expecting to be last. To be leading for a lot of the race, showed that we will be in contention,” he said.

Said Musandam-Oman Sail’s pitman Mohsin Al Busaidi from OMAN: “It was hard work and very wet but great fun and we did better than we expected. The wind died at the end but that happens in sailing. In a longer race, we will do better I think and I’m hoping for a good result in the KRYS OCEAN RACE which starts on Saturday.”

Sailing into Manhattan as part of the MOD70 parade had been a wonderful experience for all members of the crew.

“It was wonderful sailing into Manhattan – that is not something that many people ever get to do these days,” Thompson said.

“We had light winds, flat seas and a beautiful day so it was a most rewarding experience.”

The MOD 70 fleet remains in New York until Saturday when they will line up for the start of the inaugural KRYS OCEAN RACE to Brest in France.