Russians on a charge

Bronenosec takes the lead at the Calero Marinas RC44 World Championship

Light winds caused more headaches for the RC44 race committee at the Calero Marinas RC44 World Championship in Lanzarote. The fleet was held ashore for an hour to wait for the breeze to put in an appearance. Racing eventually got underway at 1400, after a promising start the wind died as the fleet approached the top mark and the race was abandoned. Not willing to give up, PRO Peter ‘Luigi’ Reggio went searching for breeze close to the entrance of Puerto Calero Marina. His perseverance paid off with eight knots of breeze filling in, allowing the 15-strong fleet to race.

The only race of the day saw place changes throughout. Team Aqua didn’t get off the blocks well, being shut out at the committee boat. Overnight leaders Ironbound headed right, but it didn’t pay the Americans rounded the windward mark last. Team Italia popped out of the middle of the course to lead from Russia’s Bronenosec and Peninsula Petroleum at the top mark.

Aleph Racing was climbing up the ladder, gaining three places down the run, rounding the leeward gate in third. Team Italia picked the right hand gate; Peninsula Petroleum in fourth place opted for the left and made a big gain. Heading into the final windward mark, a good layline call by Vasco Vascotto saw Peninsula sneak inside Bronenosec and gybe set, Tommaso Chieffi, Bronenosec’s tactician, didn’t opt for the early gybe. Team Aqua rounded the third, making a massive comeback up the final beat, Cameron Appleton also called for the gybe set.

Down the final run, the breeze filled in from behind, those who stayed on starboard gybe got richer. The losers included John Bassadone’s Peninsula Petroleum, falling from first to third and Chris Bake’s Team Aqua dropping from third to seventh, but Bronenosec stayed in the breeze to take their second victory of the event. France’s Aleph Racing climbed the ladder to second. MAG Racing gained six places on the final run to finish fourth.

After three races, Vladimir Liubomirov’s Bronenosec moves to the top of the leaderboard, with fellow Russian Krill Podolsky’s Gazprom Youth Challenge on equal points in second. David Murphy’s Ironbound has dropped down to third, but just one-point off the lead. Only five points separate the top eight boats, with no discard at the RC44 events and four races planned tomorrow, consistency is going to be key for the final two days of racing.

Match Race expert Mathieu Richard, played the game of snakes and ladders throughout the race today onboard Aleph Racing and described racing in the RC44 class: “It’s always very close in the RC44 fleet on the ranking and during the races, it’s something I love in the class, all the boats are very equal the delivery is very high. One day you can win some races and the next finish last for all the boats. It’s very exciting, that’s why I love it.”

Results

1. Bronenosec Sailing Team 1 13 1-15
2. Gazprom Youth Challenge 3 6 6-15
3. Ironbound 2 2 12-16
4. Aleph Racing 4 11 2-17
5. Team CEEREF 7 1 10-18
6. Team Aqua 6 5 7-18
7. Artemis Racing 5 3 11-19
8. Team Nika 11 4 5-20
9. Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team 12 9 3-24
10. Puerto Calero Residence Club Black 10 7 8-25
11. MAG Racing 14 10 4-28
12.Synergy Russian Sailing Team 8 8 13-29
13. Team Italia 9 12 9-30
14. Katusha 13 14 14 (1)-42
15. Puerto Calero Residence Club Grey 15 15 15-45