Grand Prix

Hahn Hamilton Island: Alfa Romeo takes double 

Neville Crichton’s brand new Reichel Pugh super maxi Alfa Romeo (NZL) has taken out both line and handicap honours in her maiden race at the Hamilton Island Hahn Premium Race Week today. Sailing in mostly light 8-13 knot breezes in the opening race of the series, the 30 nautical mile Lindeman Island Race,

Croaky on the handlebars (Photo: Andrea Francolini)

Crichton, 2003 New Zealand Sailor of the Year, got off the start mid-line and soon powered to the lead, which he increased as they got further up the race track. At 30 metres long and the most technologically advanced racing yacht in the world, the narrow hulled canting keeled Alfa Romeo looked as sleek as her name suggests, as she sailed on her own around the course, nothing of her own size to give her any competition.

Straight after the race, Crichton headed back out to sea for some more crew training, but on coming ashore was surprised to find he had won the race overall on handicap.

‘We took it easy today, sailed a conservative race. This was the first time we have had our new sails up – we’ve only had two and a half days to sort the boat out. We sailed today as a test and kept out of trouble. We’re still learning how to steer with the twin rudders and we’ve got leaking rudder bearings.

‘There are still a few computer glitches to sort out and we broke an A Frame yesterday, so today was a bit of a test for us,’ Crichton said.

On board today were the 20 sailing crew, plus designer Jim Pugh from the USA, a computer technician and the boatbuilder.

Crichton said that Alfa Romeo produced 7.5 knots of boat speed going upwind and around 15½ downwind in today’s light airs. His next big event will be the clash of the super maxis in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in December, but Crichton says, ‘I much prefer big boat racing around the buoys – it’s much more exciting – you make one mistake and you’re gone. ‘In long races like the Fastnet, it can be a bit of a crap shoot.’

Big boats, Reichel/Pugh and white spinnakers featured in the top four results today; with Stephen Ainsworth’s new 60 footer, Loki, taking second place on handicap from Steven David’s canting keeled 60ft Wild Joe and Bob Oatley’s 66ft canting keeled Wild Oats – all from NSW.

For the full story, see: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=18712  Sail-World.com is reporting from the regatta venue at Hamilton Island

For earlier story on the first race, see: http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=18711

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Grand Prix

Alfa Romeo: Another great Kiwi Supermaxi:

Neville Crichton's new supermaxi has been undergoing trialing and testing prior to making her racing debut at Hahn Premium Race Week (Hamilton Island).

For further information on this latest New Zealand supermaxi click: Alfa Romeo Technical Details or here for sailing and below deck shots: Alfa Romeo Images

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Grand Prix

Maximus first monohull home in Round the Island Race

After a slow beginning, the race to be the first boat back into Cowes turned into a real monohull versus multihull battle. The two Grand Prix French trimarans from La Trinite sur Mer in Brittany started with a flourish but halfway through the race not only had the New Zealand yacht “Cityindex Maximus” overtaken but also “Nokia Enigma” and “Pindar”. Beating in very light airs did not suit “Nuku Hiva 2” and she slipped back with her sistership but retaliated strongly on the final reach to the finish, just 39 seconds behind “Cityindex Maximus”, which had Olympic medallist Ian Walker providing the local knowledge as tactician.

 Seven hours after her start in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, the New Zealand boat “Cityindex Maximus” completed the 50 mile course around the Isle of Wight and took the Observer Trophy for the first monohull boat to finish.

Early in her race, as the front of the fleet approached Hurst the SE breeze went very light, first in mid-channel where “Nuku Hiva” and “Pindar” slowed, whilst “Nokia Enigma” and “Full Pelt” came in fast up the mainland side. Soon however all boats parked just after Hurst Castle whilst the tide continued to sweep them west. By Warden buoy, a SE breeze began to fill in and all the boats began moving again, those in the middle this time picking the breeze up first. A reach to the Needles saw “Nuku Hiva 2” pass her ORMA stable mate and she was first round just before 1000, followed by “Maximus” second, “Nuku Hiva” third and then “Pindar” and “Nokia Enigma”. The breeze held as the leaders set off on the beat for St Cat’s. But behind the leaders the wind in the west Solent remained extremely light and fickle, sometimes from the north, sometimes the west, sometimes the south-east!

The front runners round the The Needles at the western point of the Isle of Wight.
Just after 1145, “Nuka Hiva 2” rounded St Cat’s about 4 minutes ahead of “Cityindex Maximus”, with “Nokia Enigma” and “Leopard” next. The breeze soon swung to the north-east and dropped very light, so a slow beat ensued up to Dunnose and across Sandown Bay, where “Cityindex Maximus” took the lead, followed by “Nokia Enigma” and “Pindar”, with the two multihulls in 4th and 5th. Behind them, more than 300 of the smaller boats were still struggling to get through Hurst and down to the Needles.

By 1345, “Cityindex Maximus” was round Bembridge Ledge as the breeze picked up again, spinnakering away to the Forts, followed by the rest of that lead group. An hour later, she crossed the finish line in Cowes, just 51 seconds ahead of "Nuka Hiva 2" In IRC0 “Linklaters Fidessa Fastwave” (DK46 – Robert Elliott) beat sistership “Shockwave” (Nick Lutte) by 7 minutes on corrected time after an eight hour race. Further down Shirley Robertson skippering “Volvo for Life” was just 37 seconds adrift of “Hurley Palmer Flatt” and had to settle for sixth place.

 Emma Richards was racing “Pindar Alphagraphics” with sponsors and supporters on board and won the Open 60 class from Mike Golding in “Ecover”. Emma commented: “We had a good, light wind start. The breeze built slowly towards The Needles. ‘Ecover’ was always on elastic – we’d build a lead and she’d catch up, especially when the wind was coming from different directions. We were delighted to complete this race well, having retired from the Calais Round Britain.”

 Emma’s crew included Mike Sanderson, Brad Jackson and Dave Endean, currently in training for the Volvo Ocean Race, plus Pindar CEO Andrew Pindar and transatlantic rower Debra Veal. Emma will next be racing “Pindar” in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

CityIndex Maximus crosses the finish to be first monohull home.

From  the Maximus website www.supermaxi.co.nz :

The day did not start as planned for the 1659 strong fleet with the start being delayed due to light conditions. At 0700 the wind speed in Cowes was almost to light to register at just 0.1 knots but conditions improved quickly and the first fleet got underway at 0740 in a light easterly.

The first progress report showed Nuku Hiva as the first boat to round the needles at 0955 closely followed by Maximus at 0957 and Nuku Hiva II at 0958. Nokia, Stay Calm, Leopard Skandia and Oystercatcher rounded shortly after as the leaders made their way down towards St Catherine's in a 10 knot south-easterly.

By the time the fleet made its way to St Catherine's Point conditions had improved yet again with reports of gusts raging between 11 and 14 knots.

It was short lived however as after rounding the southerly most point of the island the wind eased and the fleet began the second half of the race heading into an easterly breeze of 8 knots.

By 1326 Maximus was leading the pack with Nokia Enigma following in her footsteps. Just 19 minuets later at 1345 Maximus rounded the Bembridge Ledge bouy followed by Nokia Enigma, Leopard of London, Stay Calm, and Pindar leaving just 11.6nm to the finish line.

The Forts are another spectacular point in the Round the Island Race.

Shortly after rounding at Bembridge Maximus had made a short trip of 3.9nm to the forts passing through the 7th of the 8 way points that make up the course and setting out on the final 7.7nm run home to the finish with Nokia Enigma still trailing in second place.

Ellen MacArthur's  record breaking multihull  B&Q off The Needles. 

After a day of less than ideal sailing conditions Maximus crossed the finish line at 14:51:00 completing the race in 7 hours 1 minutes taking line honours for the first time on her international campaign claiming the Observer Trophy in the process. The second boat home was early leader Nuku Hiva (the first multi home) followed closely by Leopard and Nokia Enigma. With many of the remaining boats yet to finish it is unclear who will win on corrected time. We do know however that the corrected race time for Maximus was recorded as 12:26:51.

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 From: www.supermaxi.co.nz and www.roundtheisland.org.uk