International Moth European Championship in Sicily - Practice Race
by Domenico Boffi 29 Apr 2013 11:16 BST
28 April - 4 May 2013
New world speed record for the class
A few days ago 36 Moths from 9 countries (3 continents) arrived to the quick waters of Marsala, they are the crews taking part in the Kuehne + Nagel European Championship 2013 and came earlier to become familiar with the race course and complete the settings of their boats: all 6 different languages that can be heard on the parterre of the Sailing Club Marsala talk about the incredible conditions encountered here in Sicily. Marsala, which was already known as a special location for racing, became a record place in a few days.
Saturday, April 27, in the morning, Chris Rast (SUI 3990) has established the world speed record for the class Moth: 32.2 knots and maximum speed with which the average of the best 10 seconds at 29.1 knots!
Almost all of the Moths are equipped with a Velocitek instrument that in addition to providing real-time information such as speed, heading, distance from the starting line and shifts, keeps track of all the navigation and keeps track of the maximum and the average of the best 10 seconds allowing you to see the two measures on the display. The Velocitek recorded speeds are trusted by the Moth sailor community.
Practice race
18 knots of Sirocco wind (south-east) with gusts up to 23 greeted the beginning of the Moth European Championships 2013. Marsala has a particular coastline shape, thanks to the cape Lilybeo, that allows to put down the race course sheltered from the sirocco to have almost flat water.
Under these conditions, there was the practice race where only 16 of the 36 participants completed the trial. As tradition, the practice race is not addressed with the same competitive spirit as a standard race, then arrivals do not really show real values and do not allow prediction. The best ones tend not to be aggressive at the start and do not care much about the tactic focusing on speed and maneuvers. Despite this you can see who is fast and who is not there may be with 4/5 knots of difference.
For Italians the only one to finish the race was the great Stefano Rizzi, team leader of the italian Mothies, with a respectable fourth place has hinted that this year found the pace. Lanulfi Mark, Luke and Thomas Rizzotti Freddi, the other Italian, have abandoned the race before the end not to risk the equipment in a race that is crediting points.
The European championship trophy is on display at the sailing club Marsala, the name of Chris Rashley, reigning European champion, was already engraved twice. Since 1955 the trophy changed hands and on it are inscribed the names of sailors like Simon Payne, Mark Thorpe, Rohan Veal: they are famous not only for the Moth but for the active contribution given to the world of sailing and its evolution.
Tomorrow in the water at 12:00, before departing at 13:00, there will be still sirocco intensity between 20 and 30 knots. The Kuehne + Nagel 2013 International Moth European Championship has begun and tomorrow for 6 days, the foils of the Moth will blast the Marsala waters.
www.moth.it/european2013/