Please select your home edition
Edition
Marine Products Direct 2023 - Calypso LEADERBOARD

RC44 Cascais Cup - Preview

by RC44 Class Association 18 Sep 2016 10:53 BST 21-25 September 2016
Team Nika leads the fleet on the final day of the RC44 Cascais Cup © Pedro Martinez / Martinez Studio

When it comes to the search for a purer racing experience very few venues in the world can deliver like Cascais, Portugal.

Returning to the picturesque Portuguese port for the fifth consecutive year, from the 21-25 September, the RC44 fleet are readying themselves for the strong prevailing northwesterly winds and the rolling Atlantic swell that is typical of these waters.

After what was reported as their 'best day ever' at the Portsmouth Cup back in July, Artemis Racing Youth's tactician Freddy Loof is on the dock early in Cascais to help prepare and give his underdog team the best fighting chance: "I've been here a few times in the Star, once with the RC44s and it never disappoints. It's pretty challenging compared to most venues with the big seas that roll in but I hope the physical sailing here will suit the boys," explains Loof.

"Portsmouth's result has allowed our team to realise that we can be competitive in this fleet. At the beginning of this year we couldn't even keep up and suddenly we are right there, finishing ahead of Bronenosec and CEEREF. We need to stay on our toes but hopefully Cascais will be a good event," he adds.

Currently topping the leader board are old favourites Team Aqua, helmed by owner Chris Bake with Cameron Appleton calling tactics, who hold a slim two-point lead over their biggest rivals this season's, Team CEEREF.

Dominating the race track at the first two events of the season, taking well over half of the available podium positions up for grabs, Team CEEREF, helmed by Igor Lah with British tactician Adrian Stead, have already claimed the 2016 World Championship title and have the tour crown firmly in their sights.

However, the leading boats are far from in the clear. Having struggled to maintain their usual consistency in the punishing conditions at the last event in Portsmouth, the chasing fleet have closed in on the podium. Only seven points now separate seven teams going into the Cascais Cup, the penultimate event of the 2016 season.

Currently in third John Bassadone's Peninsula Petroleum, with fiery Italian tactician Vasco Vascotto is tied on points with the cool calm Ed Baird, tactician on defending series champion Team Nika. Katusha sit in fifth, one-point ahead of Bronenosec Sailing Team in sixth, who is in turn one-point ahead of Artemis Racing in seventh.

A crew change for Monaco based team Charisma sees American tactician Chris Larson join the crew for the first time in Cascais, whilst new team this season BlackWater Sailing Team broke through the fleet at the last event, to claim their best results to date. Quite an achievement at this level of cut-throat competition.

To follow all the of the action live tune in on Wednesday 21 September to the live race blog and GPS tracking available at www.rc44.com

Team List

Artemis Racing (SWE)
Owner/Driver - Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE)
Tactician - Francesco Bruni (ITA)

Artemis Racing Youth (SWE)
Owner/Driver - Gustaf Lidvall (SWE)
Tactician - Freddy Loof (SWE)

Bronenosec Sailing Team (RUS)
Owner/Driver - Vladimir Liubomirov (RUS)
Tactician - Michele Ivaldi (ITA)

BlackWater Team (RUS)
Owners/Drivers - Alexander Zaytsev (RUS)
Andreas Savvidis (RUS)
Maxim Merzlikin (RUS)
Tactician - Konstantin Besputin (RUS)

Charisma (MON)
Owner /Driver - Nico Poons (NED)
Tactician - Chris Larson (USA)

Katusha (RUS)
Owner/Driver - Alexander Novoselov (RUS)
Tactician - Andy Horton (USA)

Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team (GBR)
Owner/Driver - John Bassadone (GBR)
Tactician - Vasco Vascotto (ITA)

Team Aqua (GBR)
Owner/Driver - Chris Bake (GBR)
Tactician - Cameron Appleton (NZL)

Team CEEREF (SLO)
Owner/Driver - Igor Lah (SLO)
Tactician - Adrian Stead (GBR)

Team Nika (RUS)
Owner/Driver - Vladimir Prosikhin (RUS)
Tactician - Ed Baird (USA)

Related Articles

Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team at 44Cup Porto Cervo
Heads held high and another important step forward in its journey The Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team concluded its participation in the 44Cup Porto Cervo with heads held high and another important step forward in its journey within the demanding RC44 circuit. Posted on 19 May
44Cup Porto Cervo overall
Team Nika regains 'her' golden wheels Vladimir Prosikhin, tactician Nic Asher and Team Nika provided a masterclass in RC44 racing on the final day of the 44Cup Porto Cervo, organised between the RC44 Class and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Posted on 18 May
44Cup Porto Cervo day 3
Team Nika clings on going into final day After yesterday's stomach churning washing machine of a day, the Costa Smeralda turned the glamour conditions back on again for day three of the 44Cup Porto Cervo, organised by the RC44 class and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Posted on 17 May
44Cup Porto Cervo day 2
Team Nika edges ahead after lumpy day For day two of the 44Cup Porto Cervo, organised between the RC44 class and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Sardinia served up very different conditions to Thursday. Posted on 16 May
44Cup Porto Cervo day 1
Five boats within two points after light opening day The RC44s once again demonstrated their versatility on day one of the 44Cup Porto Cervo. Two races were held successfully for the nimble owner-driver one designs in light conditions in which other keelboat classes would have struggled. Posted on 15 May
Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team at 44Cup Porto Cervo
The team delivered a strong performance, securing a podium finish in the second race The Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team officially begins its first-ever participation in Porto Cervo today, taking part in the second event of the 2025 44Cup season - one of the most demanding professional sailing circuits in the world. Posted on 15 May
44Cup Porto Cervo starts tomorrow
This event sees the high performance one design owner-driver fleet back up to 11 in number RC44 racing returns to Europe tomorrow with the start of the 44Cup Porto Cervo, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Posted on 14 May
Second generation Törnqvist joins 44Cup
Torbjörn Törnqvist's son Markus will take the helm this week in Porto Cervo The 44Cup is renowned for its loyal group of owners. With most having been part of the class for so long it is not surprising that many of their children now regularly sail on board as guests or as part of the crew. Posted on 12 May
Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team set for Porto Cervo
For the second leg of the international 44Cup circuit Following its participation in the first event of the year in the British Virgin Islands, the Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team returns to the water with renewed ambition for the second leg of the international 44Cup circuit. Posted on 11 May
2025 44Cup Porto Cervo Preview
Back up to 11 teams for the first time since 2016 With the RC44 fleet now safely returned from the Caribbean, competition on the 44Cup resumes again next week with the second event of the 2025 season taking place in the Italian sailing mecca of Porto Cervo. Posted on 8 May