Foto copyright Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
WILD JOE (HUN) despues de largar
Fuente info Regattanews
THE BATTLE CONTINUES
Andres Soriano’s Mills 68, Alegre crossed the finish line of the inaugural Rolex Volcano Race on Thursday 26th May at 10h 18m 40s CEST. The finish had been set off the island of Alicudi, the most westerly of the Aeolian Islands. The course was shortened by the race committee due to a lack of wind in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea.
The afterguard of Alegre includes Francesco de Angelis, who is best known as Skipper of Luna Rossa for the America’s Cup. De Angelis was born and raised in Naples and was understandably passionate about winning Line Honours, as he explained by satellite phone, shortly after Alegre crossed the finishing line.
“We understand the reason why the race has been shortened, it would have been too long a race for the other teams. Technically it has been a tricky race with many difficult points and decisions to take but it has been enjoyable. The team has sailed well and everybody on board Alegre is very happy. I had the honour of sailing with Alegre at last year’s Rolex Capri Sailing Week and I was very happy to have the opportunity to sail with the team again. It is a great group of sailors that Andres Soriano has put together. We have pushed hard on the boat but also we have enjoyed our time together. Andres Soriano has steered throughout his watch and was helming the boat as we crossed the finish line, as he did at the start.”
There is an epic battle for second place between Wild Joe, the Hungarian canting keel 60 footer, skippered by Marton Josza and Danilo Salsi’s Swan 90, DSK Pioneer Investments. The two yachts have been having a close duel since they passed Capri. This morning, Wild Joe pulled ahead of DSK Pioneer Investments for the first time in the race. Both yachts are expected to finish the Rolex Volcano Race at around sunset tonight.
“We had a great night and an even better morning.” Commented Bret Perry from on board Wild Joe. “Last night, we were in a slightly more offshore position than DSK and we decided to hold on that gybe for an extra hour or two because we had good pressure, which really paid off. We didn’t have a very good start to the race but all of the team has dug in and last night we definitely made up some ground on the other 60-foot boats in the fleet. This morning we took up an inshore position and we managed to wriggle past DSK around Stromboli but we realise that we need to get ahead to beat DSK on handicap.”
Massimiliano Florio’s Mini Maxi, Grande Orazio is extremely well placed on corrected time, the Italian yacht passed Stromboli early this afternoon and they were in good company. At just over 60 feet, Grande Orazio is one of the smallest yachts competing in the Rolex Volcano Race but they have managed to keep pace with other larger yachts on the water, as tactician, Stefano Spangaro explained by satellite phone, as they rounded the volcanic island.
“We know Stromboli very well as Grande Orazio has competed in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, it is a fantastic sight, we have good boat speed of about 7 knots and we can see Wild Joe, Edimetra and Stig, just ahead of us. It has been a very interesting and tactical race.”
Florio gave away the yacht’s secret to their excellent performance. “It is a fantastic race with really beautiful scenery. The crew are all very happy and we often listen to music to keep up our spirits, especially ambient instrumentals, which helps our concentration.”
Many of the Mini Maxi and Maxi yachts competing in the Rolex Volcano Race are expected to finish during the day.
Racing finally got under way for the inshore regatta, Rolex Capri Sailing Week. Hendrik Brandis’ Earlybird won the only race of the day, in the Swan 45 Class, by under two minutes from Andrea Masi’s Ulika but it was far from straightforward, as Brandis explained dockside at the Yacht Club Capri.
“We made a mistake with our choice of spinnaker on the first downwind leg and Ulika took the advantage. However the team on Earlybird worked well and remained calm to recover. The wind was very shifty and concentration was very important to day, it was not a physically tiring race but tactically it was a very challenging one. Capri is a wonderful place to visit. We are staying half way up the fabulous island, which means it easy to walk to the boat but also just a short distance from the Piazetta, Earlybird are very happy to be in Capri.”
In the Comet Class, Paolucci Marco’s former ORC World Champion, Libertine, won today’s race by 45 seconds on corrected time, from Athanor skippered by Conny Vuotto and crewed by the Yacht Club Capri Sailing Team. The ORC class produced an even closer result with Vincenzo De Blasio’s Scugnizza winning by four seconds from Luciano Gandini’s Twin Soul 5. No doubt the talents of America’s Cup and World Match Racing exponent Paolo Cian aided Scugnizza.
Racing continues tomorrow for the inshore regatta at Rolex Capri Sailing Week. Rolex Capri Sailing Week is organised by the Yacht Club Capri in conjunction with the International Maxi Association and the Yacht Club Gaeta for the Rolex Volcano Race.
