ISAF Nations Cup 2006 at the Royal Cork Yacht Club
by Maritta Buwalda 11 Sep 2006 00:14 BST
9 September 2006
France has won the double at the ISAF Nations Cup 2006, at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, in association with Failte Ireland, the Irish Sports Council, and Smart Telecom. What a finish...the day began with partial cloud, but as the gentle morning breeze slowly filled in, there was a steady 15 knots from the South-East. The sun slowly broke through the clouds and by the time the semi-finals had got under way, it was a beautiful sunny Autumn day in Cork Harbour. The tension both on and off the water was immense, as both competitors and spectators waited in anticipation for the semi-finals and finals.
This day of the series saw some of the best racing ever in Cork Harbour, and those watching were treated to the extreme. FRANCE and USA were out of the starting blocks first, and the French showed why they were the dominant force. A strong tide pushing the boats over the starting line made for some interesting pre-start manouvers. In the first race of the day it was France who recovered the quickest from being pushed over the line and took the lead by heading out into the tide towards the shore. With a clear run on the semi's France moved into the finals. Meantime Russia and South Aftrica (RSA) were producing first class match racing. Russia was trying to push RSA over the line in their first match of the semi-final, but the South Africans managed to find at gap and got clear ahead. The South Africans showed better boat speed for the day, and battled their way into the finals.
The finals began with the Open Event's first flight - tensions were high as the South Africians, the defending team, were trying to take the cup for a second time in a row, with France looking to snatch it away. First flight saw both teams get a clear start at the committee boat end. France opened the gap slightly to leeward. A tacking duel up the first beat ensued, but the excellent boat handling skills of the French gave them the extra length needed to pull away into clean air and take the first flight. The pressure on both teams began to increase. Could France take the next flight? It would be game over, but if RSA took the race it was game on!
France lead off from the start with RSA to leeward, with France a boat length ahead at the top mark. It was neck and neck downwind, coming into the leeward mark with RSA hitting the mark incurring a penalty. However France had an infrigment at the windward mark so they were even with penalties for the downwind leg. The hearts of the spectators were pounding and breaths were held at every gybe downwind. RSA were slightly behind but closed the gap, the French then shepherded RSA over to the starboard side of the committee boat. The South Africans then gybed in French water, made contact and a penalty was given to RSA, leaving them with a double penalty at the finish and France taking the Nations Cup.
It was a European final for the womens event with world number 1 Claire LeRoy, and Denmarks Lotte Pedersen, taking up the gauntlet. France had to take a pre-start penalty for luffing too high. An even start with the Danes to windward saw France reach the windward mark first with 2-3 boat lengths to spare. At the top of the second beat France were able to clear their penalty recieved in the pre-start period, and managed to stay ahead by a nose, taking the first match of the womens final. France's second flight with Denmark was to be another close battle after a very even start, with both teams covering each other up to the windward mark. An incident with a passing cruiser at the leeward mark caused competitors to protest. The umpires decided that it was not affecting their racing and decided to continue on. It was France who clinced victory by a whisper.
As the sun sets over the Irish sky it was been a sweet victory for some, and for the remaining teams it has been top class match racing at the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final 2006.