Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership

2023 44Cup Calero Marinas - Day 2

by 44Cup 24 Nov 2023 22:06 GMT 22-26 November 2023

They say in yacht racing that when conditions are light, flukey and difficult to predict, it is all about keeping a cool head and avoiding the big results. Italian sailors are renowned for excelling in this as they are the prevailing conditions around the Italian coast line, so it was little surprise that in the 5-10 knot northerly that was blowing over mountainous Lanzarote, two out of three of today's winning boats at the 44Cup Calero Marinas had Italian tacticians: Michele Ivaldi on Aleph Racing and Vasco Vascotto on Peninsula Racing.

While Nico Poons' season's championship overall leaders on Charisma led going into today, the Monaco-flagged team was eased out of the top spot in today's first race by Team Nika. Then by the end of race three there was another new leader in Hugues Lepic's Aleph Racing. The French team came out guns blazing today, hitting the left side of the first upwind well in the opening race to lead at the top mark and from there on, to score their second bullet of the regatta. This race had an unusual finale when, after a sudden dramatic wind shift, the middle three finishers were forced to hoist jibs to reach the line while the final three finished under spinnakers (as the first trio had).

In the second race things did not go so well as Aleph Racing trailed the fleet up the starboard lay line, languishing in last place. But going into the run they gybed immediately and two supremely timed gybes later saw them going into the gate in first place. Ultimately they finished fourth and followed this with a second in the final race - their day's scoreline elevating them to the top spot on the leaderboard. At this halfway stage of the 44Cup Calero Marinas they sit three points clear of second placed Team Nika, whose run of podium finishes came to an end with a disappointing seventh in today's last race.

"We sailed consistently, which was the most important thing to do today in the super shifty, tricky conditions," explained Louis Balcean, who is standing in for Aleph Racing's regular helm Hugues Lepic at this event. "We have been first, we have been last and everything in between, so we are happy to be where we are. But there are six more races and anything can happen."

Going into this event Aleph Racing also stood the smallest of chances of winning the 2023 44Cup overall, currently lying third, five points behind Charisma and two behind Team Ceeref powered by Hrastnik 1860. Here in Lanzarote Charisma is currently third overall and would need to end the event sixth or worse for Aleph Racing to stand a chance of claiming the title.

Of Aleph Racing's day American bowman Greg Gendall shared his perspective: "We had a good day - it was puffy and shifty. We started reasonably well in two out of three races. Then Mick [Michele Ivaldi] did a great job keeping the boat in phase and the guys kept the boat going well. It all has a really good feel to it at the moment. In that second race we had that great run: we did a set gybe and passed a few boats right there and Mick did a good job picking our way down that run. We came around the bottom tied with Vasco [Vascotto, Peninsula Racing] for first."

Of their new helm for this event he added: "We definitely miss Hugues, but Louis is doing a really job. He is quite experienced and has stepped right into it."

In race two John Bassadone's Peninsula Racing was second to Ceeref going around the top mark, but gybed earlier than her Slovenian rival to lead into the starboard leeward gate mark and hung on, despite a dangerous second beat when she got boxed in between Aleph Racing, Team Nika and Chris Bake's Team Aqua. Although this situation was very tight, her Italian tactician Vasco Vascotto managed to thread them through to lead at the top mark and a small hitch to the right on the final run saw them comfortably take the bullet in the day's second race.

"It is extremely tricky, shifty conditions - snakes and ladders, but it was fun," said Bassadone. "We had a good solid second race, but in the third we were just over the line which was very frustrating because we were in a good position. The boat is going very well - we seem to have some speed." They also have some local knowledge on board - bowman Gonzalo Morales is from the Canaries, making them the 'home team' for a second consecutive regatta.

While he is not Italian, Adrian Stead, who is calling tactics for Team Ceeref powered by Hrastnik 1860, has won a Farr 40 World Championship for an Italian team and been part of an Italian America's Cup challenger. In today's third race, Stead showed his inner Italian, keeping Ceeref on the favoured starboard tack on the first beat as others around them tacked off - a move that saw them reach the top mark with a comfortable lead, onto which they resolutely hung on to from there.

Sadly this ray of sunlight came after several deep results including a last when they had gone the wrong way up the first beat in today's opening race while in the second they were called OCS. "It was tough racing - always complicated," said Igor Lah. "Today was easier than yesterday and somehow we were lucky in the last one. You need to realise you can still do it."

Racing continues tomorrow with a first warning signal at 1200 and similar conditions forecast.

44Cup Calero Marinas Results: (after six races, penalty points in brackets)

1. Aleph Racing - 6 1 2 1 4 2 - 16pts
2. Team Nika - 1 3 3 2 3 7 - 19pts
3. Charisma - 3 2 1 4 8 3 - 21pts
4. Peninsula Racing - 2 6 5 6 1 6 - 26pts
5. Team Aqua - 7 4 7 5 2 4 (2) - 31pts
6. Team Ceeref powered by Hrastnik 1860 - 5 7 6 9 6 1 - 34pts
7. Artemis Racing - 4 8 8 3 7 8 (2) - 40pts
8. Black Star Sailing Team - 9 9 4 8 5 5 - 40pts
9. Team 69 - 8 5 9 7 9 9 - 47pts

44Cup Overall Results: (after four events, with one discard)

1. Charisma - 2 1 1 6 - 4pts
2. Team Ceeref powered by Hrastnik 1860 - 1 5 5 1 - 7pts
3. Aleph Racing - 3 3 4 2. - 8pts
4. Team Nika - 5 4 3 7 - 12pts
5. Peninsula Racing - 4 2 6 4 - 12pts
6. Team Aqua - 7 7 2 5 - 14pts
7. Black Star Sailing Team - 8 6 7 3 - 16pts
8. Artemis Racing - 6 8 8 8 - 22pts

Related Articles

44Cup Nanny Cay overall
Charisma wrestles her way on top in season opener In perfect conditions, brilliant sunshine and a 15-18 knot easterly to take the edge off the Caribbean heat, the final day of racing at the 44Cup Nanny Cay, run by PRO Maria Torrijo and the Royal BVI Yacht Club team, was also one of perfect symmetry. Posted today at 9:09 am
Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team at 44Cup Nanny Cay
Progress, challenges and a steady path forward Another intense day of racing at the 44Cup Nanny Cay saw the Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team continue its steep learning curve in one of the most demanding circuits in professional sailing. Posted on 16 Feb
44Cup Nanny Cay Day 3
Team Nika's day in the sun After an average day on Friday at the 44Cup Nanny Cay, which left them fifth overall, the 2024 44Cup champions, Vladimir Prosikhin's Team Nika, recovered their mojo today on St Francis Drake Channel. Posted on 15 Feb
Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team at 44Cup Nanny Cay
Big breeze and challenging conditions on day 2 After an opening day without racing due to strong winds exceeding 25 knots, the 44Cup Nanny Cay finally kicked off with a spectacular second day of competition. Posted on 15 Feb
44Cup Nanny Cay Day 2
Big Breeze and Yee-Haw conditions After the opening day of RC44 competition in the British Virgin Islands was lost to excess winds, the breezy relentless easterly trade winds abated enough on day two to permit three races to be sailed in winds ranging from 18 to 28 knots. Posted on 15 Feb
Lanzarote Calero Team kicks off 44Cup campaign
An intense final training session, filled with well-executed manoeuvres and an unexpected setback The Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team successfully completed its final training session before the official start of the 44Cup Nanny Cay, the opening event of the 2025 season in the prestigious RC44 international circuit. Posted on 13 Feb
44Cup Nanny Cay Day 1
Overly breezy opening day in the British Virgin Island After a light wind 44Cup Nanny Cay concluded the 2024 season, it was with great anticipation that the 44Cup teams awaited 2025's opening event in the British Virgin Island, for which stiff trade winds have been forecast for some days. Posted on 13 Feb
Foam-up forecast for 44Cup Nanny Cay Season opener
Of the nine teams competing, favourite is Vladimir Prosikhin's Team Nika It's why racing yachts congregate from all parts of the world in the Caribbean - incessant sunshine; stiff breeze, soaring temperatures, warm azure water all combining to provide an alluring cocktail with which to escape the freezing gloom of winter. Posted on 12 Feb
Lanzarote Calero Team kicks off its 44Cup campaign
Presenting a refreshed crew with a strong local presence The Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team has officially set sail in the 44Cup 2025, kicking off their campaign with the first training sessions in Nanny Cay. Posted on 11 Feb
Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team returns to the 44Cup
Local talent, blue tourism, and an elite project The Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team is returning to the 44Cup with a proposal that goes beyond competition: a high-performance sports project that promotes local talent, sustainable blue tourism, and excellence in professional sailing. Posted on 5 Feb