Monday, September 24, 2018
Finn - 2018 Finn Masters North American Championship, San Diego CA, final results
The unbroken popularity of the Finn Class was once more demonstrated with the 33 participants at the Finn Masters North Americans held until yesterday at the San Diego YC with skippers U40 welcome to compete in the 8-race series. Eric Anderson and William Alexander took the two positions. Winning the overall Masters title was Darrell Peck 3 points off the lead. Age category winners were Joe Chinburg (40-49), Peck (50-59), Rob Coutts (60-69) and Charles Rudinsky (70+).
The Masters results and the Overall results.
The Masters results and the Overall results.
No racing on the Ammersee yesterday and the results after 4 races have been declared final. Hubert Merkelbach/Markus Koy GER are the superior winners ahead of Roberto Benamati/Alberto Ambrosini ITA and Ulrich Vater/Karol Stepka GER on the ranks 2 and 3. 65 teams from 8 nations participated. 
Last Saturday, the 57th edition of the Starboat Oktoberfest Regatta began with three races sailed in good wind conditions. Yesterday, only one race could be completed in very light winds. 
After 3 light-wind days, a fresh breeze exceeding 35kn filled in on Lake Michigan yesterday and racing was cancelled for the day. Today, the last races will be held to bring about the crucial decisions. 
Three races were sailed in a light seabreeze yesterday in Valencia, and before the last races today, the situation is very exciting. 'Luna Rossa' of Patrizio Bertelli ITA (with the all-star afterguard Francesco Bruni ITA, Vasco Vascotto ITA and James Spithill AUS) remains on top, but the best team of yesterday 'Quantum' of Doug Devos USA is now only one point behind. 'Platoon' of Harm Müller-Spreer GER (John Kostecki USA) follows another point back on 3rd.
A big breeze filling in on Lake Michigan reshuffled the positions in the M32 Catamaran Worlds and after five challenging races, there was one team clearly standing out: Phil Robertson NZL with his Chinese 'China One Ningbo' team. 20 points behind follows 'Bliksem' of Pieter Taselaar NED with the 2012 Laser Olympic Champion Tom Slingsby AUS as tactician.
Just one race was held for the 2.4m at the Para Worlds on Lake Michigan, and with a race win, Damien Séguin FRA has taken the overall lead ahead of Matthew Bugg AUS. Another point behind follows Dee Smith USA on 3rd. The 4th-placed Heiko Kröger GER is already 14 points back.
Yesterday, the M32 Catamaran World Championship in Chicago began with two races. Phil Robertson NZL, the only top helmsman participating and familiar with the M32 used in the World Match Racing Tour, has already taken the overall lead. Two point and four points behind follow the locals Jennifer respectively Don Wilson USA. 
In the 60ies of the last Century, a film portrait was produced on the the Danish sailing hero Paul Elvström - 4-times Olympic Champion and multiple World Champion in various Olympic and International Classes. Elvström presents some boats and explains different aspects of sailing. 
The latest World Ranking List updates have just been published by World Sailing with Phil Robertson (NZL) maintains his position at the top of the Matchracing Open rankings ahead of Trevor Mirsky (AUS) and Ian Williams (GBR). Pauline Courtois (FRA) leads in the Women's rankings followed by Anna Kjellberg (SWE) and Johanna Bergqvist (SWE). The best-ranked North Americans are Taylor Canfield (ISV) on 9th and Nicole Breault (USA) on 5th. 
The Melges 24 sailed the 5th Round of their European Sailing Series on Lake Como over the past weekend with 5 races held on Friday and Saturday, and no race lacking wind on Sunday. German success with Eddy Eich GER and 6 points behind Luis Tarabocchia GER finishing on the ranks 1 and 2. Mario Ziliani ITA followed on 3rd. 17 teams from 5 nations participated. 
The Para World Championship on Lake Michigan began yesterday with 2 races for the 2.4m, 4 races for the Hansa 303 and 6 races for the RS Venture.
The second-last Act of the 2018 TP52 Super Series began yesterday in Valencia ESP. 'Quantum', the dominator of this season, began rather cautiosly finishing the day on rank 5. On fire however were 'Platoon' of Harm Müller-Spreer GER and 'Azzurra' of Alberto Roemmers ARG sharing the first place. 
Over the past weekend, the first German National Sailing League sailed their last 2018 round before the Final in Hamburg, this time in Kiel. The second League had concluded the season already with four teams promoted to the League one: Mühlenberger Segel-Club, Schlei-Segel-Club, Seglervereinigung 1903, Seglergemeinschaft Lohheider See.
Today begins the Para World Championship on Lake Michigan with the most-popular 2.4m keelboat ant two new classes: the Hansa 303 and the RS Venture. With Damien Séguin FRA, Heiko Kröger GER, Paul Tingley CAN or Björnar Erikstad NOR, the well-known experienced top helmsmen are on the entry lists. The largest fleet are the Hansa 303 with 43 teams. 
Light winds delayed the second half of the Medal Races yesterday, and at the end of the day, only the Lasers Standard and Radial completed their races (see separate news). The 470s and Finns remained ashore. 
No wind yesterday in San Remo at the Dragon GP, and no racing. During three day, good conditions prevailed and 5 races were held. 
Two races were sailed on the last day of the Tornado Europeans in a good 12 to 16kn breeze. After another race win, Iordanis Paschalidis/Konstantinos Trigonis GRE were the premature European Champions, their 15th important title in 10 years ! Marcel and Jürg Steiner SUI remained inspite of a premature start on rank 2. Bob and Marc Baier GER earned Bronze. As best Mixed-Team, Martin and Julia Rusterholz SUI finished 5th among the 23 teams.
The Laser Qualification Series for today's Medal Races were concluded yesterday with 3 race per class. 
The Laser Standard and Radial World Masters in Ireland were concluded yesterday with a last race sailed in moderate winds. 
The GC32-Catamaran Racing Tour continued yesterday 5 races sailed in moderate winds around 10kn. Franck Cammas FRA on 'Norauto' defended the first place, but with two bullets, 'RealTeam' with Arnaud Psarofaghis SUI moved up on rank 2 only 4 points behind the leader before the last races today. Jason Carroll USA remained on rank 6.
Easy game for Eric Monnin SUI and his team at Thompson Cup in the USA. After 12-0 and 11-1 scores in the two Round Robins and a 3-0 Semi Final victory, the Swiss won the Final against Nick Egnot-Johnson AUS with 3-1. 
Only an abandonded race was held on Friday due to lack of wind, but yesterday, a well-established Ora filled in on Lake Garda allowing to complete three good races. 
Much rain and almost no wind in Japan yesterday and only the Laser Standards could complete one race with Lorenzo Chiavarini GBR as winner. Elliot Hansen GBR remains on top overall ahead of Tonci Stipanovic CRO and Matthew Wearn AUS. Two more races are on the program today and tomorrow, the Medal Race will be held. 
The moderate seabreeze filled in late yesterday but nevertheless, four more races were completed. New on top of the rankings at equal points are now the two America's Cup skippers Franck Cammas FRA ('Norauto') and Ben Ainslie GBR ('INEOS UK Rebels'). The Geneva 'Realteam' with Arnaud Psarofaghis SUI follows on rank 3 with a 6 points' backlog. 'Argo' of Jason Carroll USA is now 6th.
The European Finn Masters in Split CRO were concluded yesterday with two races without changes on the podium. Vladimir Krutskikh RUS grasped the title ahead of Karlo Kuret CRO. The best of the day Michael Maier CZE (3/1) followed at equal points on rank 3. 62 participants. 
After the lay day, racing was resumed at the Laser World Masters yesterday in Ireland near Dublin, and all categories completed two races each in a 12kn wind. 
Apparantly no racing on Lake Garda yesterday, as no new information has been posted on the event website. Paschalidis/Trigonis GRE are leading with two race wins ahead of Marcel and Jürg Steiner SUI on rank 2. Baier/Baier GER are 3rd. 
For the first time, the breeze on the 2020 Olympic waters was light and slackening yesterday, and sailing as last Class, the Lasers just had enough wind for a Standard race, while the Radials remained without races.
The European Championship of the former Olympic Tornados began yesterday on Lake Garda with two races sailed in a well-established Ora. Still a class of their-own were the defending Champions Iordanis Paschalidis/Konstantinos Trigonis GRE with two bullets. First challengers are Marcel Steiner/Jörg Steiner SUI twice on rank 2. 23 teams from 9 nations participate.
Round 3 of the foiling GC32 Racing Tour 2018 began yesterday on Sardinia. Two races were completed in moderate winds on the first day before an upcoming thunderstorm front with stormy winds ended the competition for the day. 
Moderate 12 to 15kn winds prevailed on the second day of the Enoshima JPN Worldcup event and both Laser fleets completed 3 races each. As from today, the windforecast predicts some lighter breeze. 
Moderate winds around 10kn prevailed on day 2 of the Finn European Masters in Split CRO allowing to held two races, without changes on top of the rankings.
