Please select your home edition
Edition
Feb-Nov23 Leaderboard Revolve2

2023 44Cup Cowes World Championship Overall

by 44Cup 13 Aug 2023 21:25 BST 9-13 August, 2023

The Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes and the Solent laid on a World Championship worthy of the leading owner-driver one design class, the RC44. Over four days, the nine teams enjoyed top of the range conditions, plus the usual complexities of British tides and fast moving weather systems.

Despite these challenges Nico Poons, tactician Hamish Pepper and the crew of Charisma defended their World Championship title. Unlike the title they won last year in Portorož, Slovenia in ultra-light conditions, this time, the latter part of the regatta was held in 20 knot winds, more typically 'Charisma conditions' which contributed to their victory with a race to spare.

Charisma began the day five points ahead of Team Nika, with Chris Bake's Team Aqua and Hugues Lepic's Aleph Racing a further two and three points astern respectively.

The first race was action packed with two of the main contenders receiving penalties - Team Aqua shortly after the start and Team Nika at the second top mark rounding. In addition there were two significant lead changes: Igor Lah's Team Ceeref powered by Hrastnik 1860 led around the top mark; John Bassadone's Peninsula Racing edging ahead on the second beat; finally Charisma, having to make one less gybe, pipped both to the post.

The fortunes of Aqua and Nika descended further in the second race, held in similarly brisk conditions. With the tide slack, Peninsula Racing and Ceeref looked strong out to the right. However Aleph Racing rounded in front while Charisma was just able to get the inside berth rounding in third. Here Team Nika picked up yet another penalty. Meanwhile Team Aqua was caught in traffic and in a last effort gybed early and alone on the final run. Team Aqua and Team Nika crossed the finish line in seventh and eighth places respectively.

Their results had a dramatic effect on the leaderboard leaving Charisma 13 points ahead going into the final race and, unbeatable, claimed their second consecutive title.

"In this class because of the level, you don't need to do anything to be at the back," said Poons of his victory. "The trick is to be as consistent as possible. You win the regatta by reducing the damage of the bad races." He added: "This week we didn't start that strong, especially on the second day. Yesterday we had a very strong day and today was good."

Hamish Pepper added: "The last five races went really well - all credit to Nico and the team - they make me look good and do everything really well. When I have full faith in Nico steering and the guys trimming and the crew work, it gives me the confidence to put the boat into places that sometimes normal people wouldn't try. We had to do that today at the top mark for our last race - Nico and the guys pulled it off nicely and that probably won us the regatta with a race to spare."

In addition to Poons and Pepper, the Charisma crew comprised Chris Hosking, Ross Halcrow, Dimitri Simmons, Ryan Godfrey, Robin Jacobs, Flavia Tomiselli and Ivan Peute. Their coach is American Morgan Reeser with the local experience for this regatta from David Howlett.

Other reasons for Charisma's generally superb performance seems to be a combination of Poons, who despite his modesty has been yacht racing as both crew and helmsman for some 40 years; a world class tactician and crew; the team, including Poons, getting in the maximum permitted training time before every regatta and using up all their annual sail cards harnessing the talents of sail designer Robert Hook.

While Charisma basked in glory, the story for the rest of the fleet was far from over. With Charisma gone and Louise Morton's all-female Bullet crew having retired, there was still the tightest fight in the final race for the remaining podium positions with Aleph Racing one point ahead of Team Aqua and Team Nika.

Ultimately Team Aqua, the day one leader, finally came good to win the race and claim second overall. Even then the drama was not over. Team Nika was looking solid in second but where would Aleph Racing finish? A third would leave her tied, claiming third overall on countback. Ultimately Aleph Racing finished fifth behind Christian Zuerrer's Black Star Sailing Team and Torbjörn Törnqvist's Artemis Racing, leaving Team Nika third overall.

Chris Bake, who in addition to campaigning Team Aqua was also the 44Cup Cowes' host via his club, the Royal Yacht Squadron commented: "As always in this class it comes down to the last leg of the last race. Charisma put on an exception performance this week and were very consistent. The rest of us struggled with ups and downs on the scoreboard. We were really pleased to be able to pull it together on the last race.

"The Solent is a tricky body of water. It has variable winds and variable currents to deal with. The race management and the courses they set up were superb. The weather was typically British summer time with some cloud and rain, but it has been superb. We provided a lot of entertainment on the water."

At the prize-giving the Royal Yacht Squadron was roundly thanked by the 44Cup class and teams for their hospitality and their superb race management headed up by Peter Saxton with the 44Cup's own Maria Torrijo.

From here the 44Cup moves to Alcaidesa Marina next to Gibraltar for the penultimate event of the season, over 18-22 October.

2023 44Cup World Championship Ranking: (after 13 races)

1. Charisma - 4 2 2 4 8 2 6 2 1 1 1 3 10DNS - 46pts
2. Team Aqua - 1 1 4 8 1 7 8 4 3 2 4 7 1 -51pts
3. Team Nika - 7 3 1 2 4 5 5 1 4 5 5 8 2 - 52pts
4. Aleph Racing - 2 5 6 3 2 6 1 7 2 4 8 1 5 (2) - 54pts
5. Team Ceeref powered by Hrastnik 1860 - 6 7 7 5 5 3 3 3 5 3 3 5 6 - 61pts
6. Peninsula Racing - 3 4 5 7 7 1 7 5 6 8 2 2 7 - 64pts
7. Black Star Sailing Team - 5 6 3 6 6 4 2 8 7 6 7 6 3 - 69pts
8. Artemis Racing - 8 9 8 1 3 8 4 6 8 7 6 4 4 - 76pts
9. Bullet - 9 8 9 9 9 9 10DNF 9 9 10DNF 9 10DNF 10DNF - 120pts

44Cup Overall Ranking 2023: (after three events)

1. Charisma - 2 1 1 - 4pts
2. Aleph Racing - 3 3 4 - 10pts
3. Team Ceeref powered by Hrastnik 1860 - 1 5 5 - 11pts
4. Peninsula Racing - 4 2 6 - 12pts
5. Team Nika - 5 4 3 - 12pts
6. Team Aqua - 7 7 2 - 16pts
7. Black Star Sailing Team - 8 6 7 - 21pts
8. Artemis Racing - 6 8 8 - 22pts

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