World Match Racing Tour Opens in Newport
Rain or Shine or Fog, the World Match Racing Tour Newport got off to an Epic Start with Thrills, Spills and Plenty of High-speed Sailing Today.
Ian Roman/WMRT captured the intense action today on the foggy racetrack located off Fort Adams at Sail Newport. Racing through Saturday. Bring the entire family to watch this unique event.
In sailboat racing, crews are always at the mercy of the wind and often either too much of it or too little is delivered to the racecourse by Mother Nature. However on the opening day of the World Match Racing Tour hosted by Sail Newport, crews also faced a fog so thick that at times it was hard to see the bows of their M32 catamarans, let alone marks of the course.
As the banks of fog rolled through Newport Harbor and the wind fluctuated from six to 16 knots, the officials on the racecourse located on the Newport Harbor side of Fort Adams - skillfully dodged fog and low wind periods to deliver a full day of racing.
As usual with the modern-day WMRT race format, the first two days of this event are qualifying fleet races to determine the "Super 16" teams. High performance M32 catamarans were used for the 20 teams which were divided into four groups. All but two races of today's full schedule were completed.
Stand-out performers of the day were New Zealand's Chris Steele and his 36 Below Racing crew in Group 1, Sally Barkow's Team Magenta 32 in Group 2 and the Yann Guichard-skippered Spindrift Racing from France in Group 4, none of whom finished a race lower than second.
This was particularly good for M32 newcomer New Zealand's Chris Steele: "I am really happy with the way the guys are sailing with the boat. It was pretty tricky out there, and we didn't come close to flipping it over. We just kept it clean."
Steele attributed their result today to having come into this regatta fresh from last week's qualification event. "That was massive in our preparation for this event. While we aren't anywhere near some of the other top teams, coming off three days of racing is what helped this morning," concluded Steele.
While fog is normally associated with light or no wind, in New England you can get fog and wind. Sail Newport Executive Director Brad Read explained the conditions: "Today's fog was also caused by all the moisture from the tropical system that went into the Carolinas, and it's why it's so humid at the moment."
The lack of visibility created some unique problems on the racecourse. "You couldn't even see the reach mark," said Swede Stefan Rahm, whose boat capsized during the third race of Group 1. "You can get a bit disorientated when you don't see the marks, but it is not a big problem. The worst part was that you couldn't see the boundaries. It was really hard to see where you had to tack."
During the first group's racing, the M32s were sailing under full mainsails in wind gusting to 16 knots. In these conditions even the normally flawless Taylor Canfield and his US One team got caught out and flipped their M32.
Coming out on top in Group 3 was GAC Pindar skipper Ian Williams, but he ended the day only a point ahead of American Michael Menninger's 13 Fifty Racing after taking not one but two course marks for a trawl during his group's final race.
Proving that the World Match Racing Tour Newport could be the occasion that the girl-power of Team Magenta prevails, American skipper Sally Barkow is ahead in Group 2. "We are just trying to keep improving and these conditions are favorable for us."
Barkow is perhaps more used to racing in Newport and New England than many other crews here and noted that it was difficult to sail their M32 as they would normally, with the water and gust patterns obscured in the fog. "It is tricky because we normally change modes on the boat with every knot change of pressure."
While on the water the day included occasional rain as well as the fog. According to Read, however, conditions are set to improve tomorrow. "This morning the forecasters were saying that it is going to be sunny for the next three or four days."
Racing continues tomorrow through Saturday, June 4 when the Final is set to take place from 2-4 p.m. Live streaming starts Wednesday at http:www.wmrt.com/newport and continues through the finals.
As Rhode Island's Public Sailing Center, Sail Newport aims to provide the experience of sailing to the public and will offer free Try Sailing! opportunities to visitors through Saturday June 4 (Sessions are from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on all days but Saturday, June 4, when they are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon). No experience is necessary as certified skippers and life jackets (for all ages) will be provided by Sail Newport.
WORLD MATCH RACING RESULTS*
Day One
*Not all groups have completed the first round-robin. Racing continues tomorrow.
Group 1
1. Chris Steele (NZL), 36 Below Racing - 5 points
2. Mattias Rahm (SWE), Rahm Racing - 11 points
3. Taylor Canfield (ISV), US One - 11 points
4. Steve Thomas (AUS), RPM Racing - 15 points
5. Keith Swinton (AUS), Team Accure - 19 points
Group 2
1. Sally Barkow (USA), Team Magenta 32 - 5 points
2. Nicolai Sehested (DEN), Trefor Match Racing - 7 points
3. Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE), Dackhammar Racing - 8 points
4. Eric Monnin (SUI), Albert Riele Swiss Team - 12 points
5. Chris Poole (USA), Riptide Racing - 13 points
Group 3
1. Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar - 9 points
2. Michael Menninger (USA), 13FIFTY Racing - 10 points
3. Evan Walker (AUS), KA Match / CYCA - 13 points
4. Hans Wallen (SWE), Wallen Racing - 14 points
5. Matt Jerwood (AUS), Redline Racing - 14 points
Group 4
1. Yann Guichard (FRA), Spindrift Racing - 4 points
2. Phil Robertson (NZL), WAKA Racing - 6 points
3. Johnie Berntsson (SWE), Flux Team - 11 points
4. David Gilmour (AUS), Team Gilmour - 15 points
5. Iker Martinez (ESP), Team Espana - 15 points
Sailor climbs back on board team GAC Pindar
Fog...In Rhode Island?
Moments of glory today inside Newport Harbor for the World Match Racing Tour Newport.
(all photos Ian Roman/WMRT)
COMING UP NEXT:
TUESDAY
Racing, 10 am - 5 pm Videos posted on social media
Try Sailing, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm, free, open to public
WEDNESDAY
Racing, 10 am - 5 pm *Live Streaming on wmrt.com/newport
Try Sailing, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm, free, open to public
THURSDAY
Racing, 10 am - 5 pm *Live Streaming on wmrt.com/newport
Try Sailing, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm, free, open to public
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