Waiting for wind - mistral fails to arrive at Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 7 Jun 2018 19:42 BST
5-9 June 2018
My Song - Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta © Borlenghi / YCCS
The weather has been unusually uncooperative for the start of the 2018 edition of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, organised by the YCCS with the support of title sponsor Loro Piana.
The Costa Smeralda was wet and windless this morning, with the AP flag flying ashore over the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda from 9.30 a.m. to signal that racing was postponed.
Some forecasts indicated that a mistral wind would arrive in the afternoon which would have allowed the first race of the event to be run.
The AP flag was lowered at 2.30 p.m. with the intention of giving the Warning Signal at 4 p.m. However after a long wait and the Race Committee's best efforts to get the boats off the starting line, at 4.30 Principal Race Officer Peter Craig was forced to give in and raise the AP over Alpha signal, sending the fleet back to the docks for the day.
Francesco Mongelli, navigator on board My Song, summarised the weather conditions: "In these first two days we had a very confused situation that was complicated to predict. Some forecasting models which I use, together with my own personal experience, provided some bits of correct information, but in reality the wind came in two hours later than predicted, too late to get racing started. But we can't control the wind, that's part of the beauty of sailing."
The various mathematical forecasting models indicate that tomorrow and Saturday 9th June - the final day of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta - will bring consistent mistral winds, enabling these magnificent yachts to show their strengths on the regatta course. Racing is scheduled to start at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow, with the organisers intending to complete two races.
Tomorrow, 8th June is World Oceans Day: alongside the regatta, which is managed in accordance with the principles set out in the Charta Smeralda, YCCS will also organising a Clean Beach Day tomorrow on the Tre Monti beach together with children from the schools of nearby Arzachena and Cannigione.
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