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| DAY
4 & OVERALL
(Source:
onetoncup.com)
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| There was half the number of
boats which challenged the One Ton Cup one year ago, but what
a competition ! We have to be on our guard against the scoring
table, which seems to show that Atalanti X easily mastered
the race and Faster K-Yote I was here to play bit parts. None
of these statements reflects the truth. All six boats tended
to cross the finishing line within ten seconds, and each of
the crews could easily win most of one design inshore sailing
races.
Gavin Brady (Atalanti X) had to fight hard and Dawn Riley
(Faster K-Yote I) never switched off : "Although we come last
overall, we actually only came last in four races and we are
pleased about that. This is some of the most challenging sailing
in the world." Her team deserves respect for what they did.
Most of them are top competitors in dinghy sailing but had
little or no experience in big boats sailing. And they had
to tame the same racing machine as male crews'. .
Atalanti X did not race today. "2nd and 3rd is important in
this race, declared winning tactician Robbie Haines. Since
we would not have sailed as aggressively today as we did for
9 races, we did not want to interfere with the other competitors
; it would not have been fair on them." Indeed, the fight
was hot for second place, which was defended successfully
by Laser Olympic Champion Ben Ainslie (Babbalaas). Matt Drake,
trimmer onboard Hawk, explained : "We had a plan to be second,
but we knew it was going to be a tall order. Actually, Ben
Ainslie match-raced us off the course at the beginning of
Race 10. But we are pretty happy with 3rd given the quality
of the opposition."
After having finished 2nd in 1999 in Puerto Portals and in
2000 in Marseilles, Atalanti X's Greek owner George Andreadis
- who competed the Olympics in Flying Dutchman class in 1968
and in Soling class in 1976 - meets success at last with Star
World Vice-Champion Gavin Grady at the helm in one of his
most difficult quests. The One Ton Cup, which belongs with
the America's Cup to the two oldest sailing trophies still
being staked, had only been won once by a Greek boat, Okyalos,
in 1990 in Marstrand. Next edition in Greek waters ? This
would be a first...
Final Ranking (Boat / Country / Skipper / Races / Total)
1. Atalanti X, GRE (Gavin Brady), 1-1-1-1-(2)-(2)-1-1-1-(DNS)-(DNS),
11 pts
2. Babbalaas, GBR (Ben Ainslie), 2-(6)-2-(3)-3-1-3-2-2-1-1,
17 pts
3. Hawk, GBR (Nigel Bramwell), 3-3-31-31-1-(4)-2-(4)-35-3,
25 pts
4. Bounder, GBR (Jeremy Robinson), 4-2-3-2-4-(92)-(5)-3-4-2-5,
29 pts
5. Faster K-Yote II, FRA (Laurent Delage), (5)-4-4-4-(7)-4.52-4-5-5-3-2,
36,5 pts
6. Faster K-Yote I, GER (Dawn Riley), (6)-5-5-5-5-5-(6)-6-6-4-4,
45 pts
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| DAY
3
(Source:
onetoncup.com)
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| This morning's changing sky
turned to sun. Gavin Brady's (Atalanti X) superiority was
already clear and went stronger throughout the four races
of the day without being disturbed by the moves in middle-ranking.
Nigel Bramwell (Hawk) managed to convince the Jury to give
him an amount of points for races 3 (6 points) and 4 (7 points
for DNS) equal to the average of the points to be scored in
all other races. In colliding with a support boat, Hawk had
been damaged yesterday. Laurent Delage (Faster K-Yote II)
was disqualified in Race 5 for irregular manoeuvring on the
starting line.
Following Hawk's performance, Ben Ainslie (Babbalaas) won
the first race today. Jeremy Robinson (Bounder) and Laurent
Delage (Faster K-Yote II) collided going round the leeward
mark : 50% penalty for both. Bounder loses a lot today in
going down from 2nd to 4th place overall. Atalanti X won the
three other races of the day. As the sun goes down, victory
is virtually in the bag. Indeed, the Discard Rule (the worst
result for each boat is discarded if seven races or more are
completed, the two worst results are discarded if nine races
or more are completed) makes George Andreadis' IC 45 untouchable.
Contrary to what the crushing superiority by Atalanti X would
have us believe, it was not a pushover, according to New Zealand
skipper Gavin Brady : " The results do not reflect the level
of the race, we had to fight to win. " He explains : " There
was no room for error and we had to work very hard in the
first five minutes of each race. With a six boats race, everyone
was on the starting line from the word go. " However, the
competition is not yet over, et no doubt that the race for
second place will be hotly contested.
Results after 9 races (Boat / Country / Owner / Skipper /
Races / Total)
1. Atalanti X, GRE (G. Andreadis/Gavin Brady), 1-1-1-1-(2)-(2)-1-1-1,
7 pts
2. Babbalaas, GBR (D. McLean/Ben Ainslie), 2-(6)-2-(3)-3-1-3-2-2,
15 pts
3. Hawk, GBR (N. Bramwell/Nigel Bramwell), 3-3-31-31-1-(4)-2-(4)-3,
18 pts
4. Bounder, GBR (C. Little/Jeremy Robinson), 4-2-3-2-4-(92)-(5)-3-4,
22 pts
5. Faster K-Yote II, FRA (S. Kandler/L. Delage), (5)-4-4-4-(7)-4.52-4-5-5,
30.5 pts
6. Faster K-Yote I, GER (O. Kandler/Dawn Riley), (6)-5-5-5-5-5-(6)-6-6,
37 pts
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| 1. After protest,
Hawk obtained from the Jury a number of points equal to the
average of the points to be won in the other races for Races
3 (6th) and 4 (DNS).
2. 50% penalty for infringement.
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| DAY
2
(Source:
onetoncup.com)
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| The race conditions were perfect
- sunshine and North-West wind blowing between 15 and 20 knots.
Atalanti X confirmed her crushing superiority today. "They
have speed, intelligence and success; they did not make a
mistake", according to Stephen Kandler, Faster K-Yote II’s
owner and crewmember. However in the last race, Hawk showed
that the Greek IC 45 is not invincible.
Throughout the day, Hawk stole the show. First of all, a collision
with a support boat damaged her – a hole in the bow – just
before the first race of the day. Having spent too much time
repairing the boat, the English IC 45 missed the start in
the following race, which costs them 7 penalty points.
Hawk made an official appeal to try to reduce her penalty.
At last, Nigel Bramwell’s boat came back in Race 5 to put
an end to George Andreadis’ winning streak. Not forgetting
that Nigel Bramwell is the only owner to helm his own boat.
In the middle of these developments, Bounder‘s exceptional
performance passed almost unnoticed. "It is a game of snakes
and ladders, but we manage to make less mistakes than the
others." said tactician Craig Mitchell modestly explaining
the accuracy of his decisions.
In fact it is exceptional for a largely amateur crew to be
second in such a top-level regatta, as Stéphane Kandler states:
"Onboard Faster K-Yote II, we have people who won the Tour
Voile this year. This tells a lot about the level here, in
the One Ton Cup." However, the motivation stays unchanged
on the French boat: "There is less and less distance between
boats on the water, and this is set to continue." concludes
Stéphane Kandler. Hawk seems to be proving him right…
Results after 5 races (Boat / Country / Owner / Skipper /
Races / Total)
1. Atalanti X, GRE (George Andreadis/Gavin Brady), 1-1-1-1-2,
6 pts
2. Bounder, GBR (Chris Little/Jeremy Robinson), 4-2-3-2-4,
15 pts
3. Babbalaas, GBR (David McLean/Ben Ainslie), 2-6-2-3-3, 16
pts
4. Hawk, GBR (Nigel Bramwell/Nigel Bramwell), 3-3-6-DNS-1,
20 pts
5. Faster K-Yote II, FRA (Stephen Kandler/Laurent Delage),
5-4-4-4-5, 22 pts
6. Faster K-Yote I, GER (Ortwin Kandler/Dawn Riley), 6-5-5-5-6,
27 pts
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| DAY
1
(Source:
onetoncup.com)
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| New Zealand helmsman Gavin Brady
is the man of the day. Two races competed, two races won,
already 4 points ahead of the second placed boat in the overall
rankings. Atalanti X was obviously above the other boats today.
“The boat has received the best possible preparation.” explains
Gavin Brady, before tempering: “This was a real advantage
today, but it will be less and less true as races go on.”
American tactician Robbie Haines confirms: “We have got a
good preparation before the race and today, we made less mistakes
than the others.” That is the key point in one-design racing.
And a game in which even the best skippers can do the most
basic mistakes.
Ben Ainslie can testify. He made a pretty good first race
at the helm of David McLean’s Babbalaas right behind unbeatable
Atalanti X; but in the second race, he refused the way to
Faster K-Yote I and had a penalty: a 360° which was quickly
done, but could not prevent the Welsh boat from being passed
by all the other boats. The boats are so close to each other
that you do not have a second chance.
Today was a hard day for tacticians. With wind going up and
down, left and right, it was difficult to “guess” the best
way within the contradictory unwritten rule : ”Stay with others
and try to reach a better spot before them.” American Dawn
Riley, skipper of Faster K-Yote I all-women crew states: “Our
first start was very average, the second one was pretty good.
But each time we were trapped in shifty conditions. The tactics
was difficult today.”
French helmsman Laurent Delage from Faster K-Yote II agreed:
“We made good starts, but we concentrated too much on wind,
not enough on control. And we did not find the good spots.”
As Babbalaas experienced in the second race, it is easy to
move down in the ranking. The reverse is also true. Competitors
stay confident for the coming races and are more motivated
than ever. Gavin Brady knows his advantage is real but fragile.
Ben Ainslie wants to forget the second race. Jeremy Robinson
on Bounder and Nigel Bramwell on Hawk showed how regularity
could help a crew mainly composed of amateur sailors to compete
with the world élite - Bounder and Hawk are equal second overall.
Results after 2 races (Boat / Country / Owner / Skipper /
Races / Total)
1. Atalanti X, GRE (George Andreadis/Gavin Brady), 1-1, 2
pts
2. Bounder, GBR (Chris Little/Jeremy Robinson), 4-2, 6 pts
= Hawk, GBR (Nigel Bramwell/Nigel Bramwell), 3-3, 6 pts
4. Babbalaas, GBR (David McLean/Ben Ainslie), 2-6, 8 pts
5. Faster K-Yote II, FRA (Stephen Kandler/Laurent Delage),
5-4, 9 pts
6. Faster K-Yote I, GER (Ortwin Kandler/Dawn Riley), 6-5,
11 pts
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| PREVIEW
(Source:
onetoncup.com)
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Created in 1899 by the Cercle de la Voile de Paris,
the One Ton Cup is the oldest and the most prestigious French
trophy in yachting sport. Although Sweden leads the score
with 13 victories, the One Ton Cup is initially a matter
of rivalry between British and French yachtsmen. The next
act is to be played in Wales in the beginning of September.
From Auckland to San Francisco, from Sydney to Oslo, from
Napoli to Rio-de-Janeiro, the One Ton Cup has been contested
everywhere around the world for 102 years. After Cavale
Bleue from Thierry Peponnet (le Défi) won last year
in Marseille, the Cup is now located
in Pwllheli on the Cambrian Coast (North Wales) by the Bay
of Cardigan.
This year two 2003 America's Cupper are expected : Ben Ainslie,
Laser Olympic Champion in Sydney and recruited by Oracle
Racing and Gavin Brady, World Vice-champion in Star Olympic
class and member of the new Prada Challenge.
On the French side, chances will rely on Faster K-Yote I.
Her owner, Ortwin Kandler, has taken on an all-American
et… all-women team. Skipper Dawn Riley has got an impressive
experience, even compared to her male opponents : three
America’s Cups, two Whitbreads, winner of the America’s
Cup in 1992 (America3), skipper of an all-women team in
both America’s Cup (America3 in 1995) and Whitbread (Maiden
in 1989-90), first woman to head a syndicate in the America’s
Cup in 2000 (America True).
Danger could also come from German IC45 Faster K-Yote II,
likely to lay out a potentially fearsome French team. 1999
and 2000 victories were the work of French crews.
List of entries (Boat / Country /
Owner / Skipper / Tactician)
Atalanti X / GRE / George Andrealis / Gavin Brady / Robbie
Haines
Babbalaas / GBR / David McLean / Ben Ainslie / Kelvin Harrap
Bounder / GBR / Chris Little / Jeremy Robinson / NA
Faster K-Yote I / FRA / Ortwin Kandler / Dawn Riley / Melissa
Purdy
Faster K-Yote II / GER / Stephen Kandler / Laurent Delage
/ Tanguy Cariou
Hawk / GBR / Nigel Bramwell / Nigel Bramwell / David Bedford
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