Day 5: Tornado Worlds - Chaos in Race 9

Earlier: Still awaiting confirmation of final results however with nine races sailed, the Kiwi/Argie combination of Aaron Macintosh and Carlos Espinola had moved up to sixth position overall, and fifth country in Olympic parlance.  In race 9 the duo finished 7th in a Race that was won by the Spanish crew of Toni Rivas and Fabia Escude (17th overall).  A massive 23 boats have been penalised in this race - for BFD (breaking a Black Flag start) - almost 40% of the fleet. The situation is further complicated by the series leader Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz (ESP) who have been granted Redress in the same race. The top Australian combination of Darren Bundock and Aaron Worrall are one of those who is scored as having broken RRS 30.3 (Black Flag) and this has dropped them to 14th on the overall points score.

 Photos by  Benoit Hervochon   New World champions Fernando Echavarri & Anton Paz (ESP)

Macintosh finishes sixth overall - beats Australians and 2004 Olympic Medallists.

The 2005 World Tornado Championships in La Rochelle have ended on a dramatic note, with the series winner being involved in a three hour redress hearing. The final race scheduled – race 10 was cancelled due to light winds.

Kiwi 2000 Olympic Boardsailing bronze medallist, Aaron Macintosh who has teamed up with 2004 Bronze medallist in the Tornado, Argentinean Carlos Espinola , finished in sixth place overall, after finishing seventh in the final race. He was the top Antipodean with   four times World Champion Darren Bundock and crew Aaron Worrall finishing 14^th overall after catching a dose of the Black Flag disease at the start of race 9. Second Australian crew was the combination of Glenn Ashby and Andrew Williams who finished in 9^th in the final race and lifted to 19^th on overall points. The pair had a good run home in the regatta, with top ten placings in the final two races. Not so good news for the third Australian crew of Robbie Lovig and Glen Douglas who were 38^th of 41 finishers and slipped to 40^th overall. Kiwi pair of David and Susan Williams out of Nelson finished with their best performance of the regatta in 27^th place – which hauled them up to 51^st on overall standings.

 Aaron Macintosh

The ninth race had nothing less than 23 boats black-flagged, including provisional leaders ESP Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz, which, at that point, cost them the title. The Spanish team entered the last day of the event with 11 points separating them from runner-up GBR Leigh McMillan and Will Howden. The situation changed dramatically with his black-flag disqualification coupled with the second place the British got in the race – putting Team GBR’s  McMillan and Howden 23 points ahead.

Toni Rivas and Fabian Escude (ESP) won the race and another Team GBR Hugh Styles and Graham Vials, third.

The conditions again were similar to yesterday: sea-breeze 8 to 9 knots. But the wind dropped and Race 10 started under shifty and light winds and had to be cancelled once the breeze died completely.

Echavarri and Paz put in a protest for redress as soon as they arrived on-shore. They had evidence that they were actually not over the line. After a three hour hearing the Jury ruled them correct and they were granted the redress which put them back in first place and World Champions.

‘We were definitely not over the line and we were lucky enough to have evidence of that. We were being very, very careful and I wouldn’t risk the title by doing such a mistake!! We have been training hard, we have been sailing well. It was time for a reward – we are the World Champions! Gee are we happy!!!’ explained Echavarri with a big smile on his face.

 Carlos Espinola

After the regatta, Aaron Macintosh had a chance to reflect. ‘We only got in one race as the off shore breeze died out and the sea breeze never made it in.

’In Race 9, Carlos and I sailed well to finish 7th. We rounded the top mark 15th and slowly knocked off the boats in front.  The breeze died as the race went on finishing in only 4 knots.  We made some nice decisions with the shifting breeze.  We had good game plan and stuck to it. Keep it simple, keep it safe and no risks.  It paid off.’

’So with a 7th place this gives us 6th place over all.  Not to bad considering our limited time sailing together.  We were focused and determined to make our mark in this experienced fleet.  We beat the Gold and Silver Medallists from Athens and Sydney.  We were racing against full time professionals and there advantage showed.  We made few silly mistakes early in the regatta, but as we sailed more together we became a better team, our speed improved and our tack ticks more precise as our communication improved.’    

’Carlos and I are planning to do the European Championship in six weeks time (Sweden).  We know we can do better and are going to give it a serious shot.  We have some new equipment to test and some settings to try.  It’s not often you get the chance to sail with mates from another country. We had fun sailing together, we may as well do as much as possible in a non qualifying year.’

   Photos by  Benoit Hervochon Second placed Leigh McMillan and William Howden (GBR)

To underline the re-writing of the form-book for the Tornado class, 2004 Gold Medallists Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher (AUT) finished 11^th overall  - only placing twice in the top ten. 2004 GBR Olympic representative, who finished 11^th in Athens, Leigh McMillan and new crew Howden Williams, finished second in the 2005 Worlds. Silver medallists in 2004, John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree (USA) finished 8^th in the 2005 Worlds – improving with a string of top ten placings in the final half of the regatta.
 

Top Five Overall

1. ESP   Echavarri/Paz               43.90

2. GBR  McMillan/Howden      48.00

3. FRA   Revil/Espagnon           76.00

4. GER   Polgar/Spalteholz        78.00

5. FRA   Guichard/Guyader       83.00

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Day 4: Kiwi flies in Tornado Worlds

New Zealand skipper Aaron Mcintosh, sailing with an Argentinean crew, turned in two very consistent races finishing 4^th and 5^th in the two races sailed on Day 4 of the 2005 World Tornado Championships in la Rochelle, France. The Kiwi and Argentinean combination were the only crew in the event to return top five placings in both races, in what was generally a very inconsistent day on the water.

Photos by  Benoit Hervochon 

The NW sea-breeze brought sun and light winds back to La Rochelle

Race 7 – A light-moderate breeze of 7 to 8 knots prevailed together with the very strong sun was certainly not making it any easier. GBR Leigh McMillan and Will Howden were leading the pack for most of the race but on the final leg PUR Enrique Figueroa and Jorge Hernandez took the first position and crossed the line just in front of the British team. FRA Xavier Revill and Christophe Espagnon finished in third.

Provisional leaders of the event ESP Echavarri and Paz had a 6th, which put them under a little bit of pressure for the next race especially with McMillan and Howden having won the race.

Macintosh described the race this way: “We  left the harbour with a very light breeze and it built to 6 knots by the start.  Breeze still unstable but they got us away.  We looked good down at the pin but bailed out and set up on port with a minute to go.  The breeze was in a hard left phase and we didn’t want to get stuck out left.  We broke through the starboard boats about mid line and found a nice lane.  We rounded the first mark 6th held our ground down wind we then out smarted the US team on the next beat and also got through the Portuguese to finish 4th, our best result to date”.

 

Windsurfer Olympic medallists, NZL Aaron Mcintosh and ARG Carlos Espinola, have teamed up for this event, due in part to health issues with Macintosh’s regular New Zealand crew. .  Ironically, both Mcintosh and Espinola were granted the Worlds for their respective home-countries - 2006 Buenos Aires and 2008 Auckland. “We shared the podium in Sydney, we are best friends, we are enjoying sailing together and we are getting better as a team everyday. That’s the best basis for a good partnership!” says Mcintosh.

Race 8 started with stronger wind, 12 knots, but it did not hold its strength and dropped to the range of 7-8 knots again and became very shifty. Newcomers to the class ESP Javier Padron and Miguel Perez and AUS Glenn Ashby, 3 times A-Class World Champion, and Andrew Williams hold the first positions throughout the race.

hotos by  Benoit Hervochon

“This is our first year in the class and we are still learning. We were training in conditions like today and it is good to see that it is paying off. But we have still a long way to go”, explains ESP Javier Padron.

“Today the most important thing for us was not boat speed but looking around and being flexible with the decisions we had to make. And it was worth it”, says AUS Glenn Ashby. This crew were the best performers of the Australians, today taking second – their fist single digit result of the regatta and pulled them up into 22^nd overall. To underline the topsy-turvy nature of the day, the eights race was won by a Spanish crew who are now lying in 33^rd overall!

Macintosh and Espinoal finished 5^th “The sea breeze was starting to fail and we had an off shore breeze push out on to the course,” explained Macintosh later.  “This didn’t eventuate completely but a breeze from the NNW filled in from land,  very unstable and gusty. This is mainly due to the warm air over the cold water sometimes lifting.  We started well with the plan to work the right side of the course.  We looked like we would lead at the fist mark but a header in the last 100 meter forced us to put in another 2 tacks.  Arriving 5th and looking good we came unstuck as 2 port tackers infringed us on the top mark.  We finally got around 15th.   With the right paying like it did up wind, we jibe set struggling through bad air from the boats still sailing up wind and pushed hard into new breeze passing 10 boats down wind.  We were in  5th again.  We got up to third on the second beat but lost 5 places down win, we just got caught out with a gust that favoured everyone but us.   With a lot going on the course and now Carlos and I starting to really communicate well,  our decisions on the race course and got back in to 5th for the last top mark and finish. A great day.”

“The only person to have a day like us was the Spanish team with a 3rd and 6^th,” he added

 Aaron Mcintosh At La Rochelle              

The very consistent results today meant the Spanish crew of Echavarri and Paz retained their lead in the event and increased the difference to the second in 11 points.

“We are now in 8th place equal points with 7th Austria (the Gold Medallists) and 1 point ahead of the Americans (silver Medallists), said Mcintosh. “We are 9 points from 4th place and with the final 2 races tomorrow anything can happen. Lets see what the boys can pull out.

Of the other Antipodeans, four time world champion Darren Bundock and crew Andy Worrall fished with  29^th and 7^th place to lie 10^th overall. Glenn Ashby and Andrew Williams were 14^th and 2^nd for 22^nd overall and Robbie Lovig and Glen Douglas were 37^th and DSQ dropping them down to 38^th overall. The all-Kiwi crew of David and Susan Shaw (Nelson) were 51^st and 39^th on the water for 52^nd overall.

The final two races in the regatta will be held tomorrow.

Click here  - Macintosh Movie  - for a video (needs Quicktime movie of Aaron sailing in the 2005 Worlds)

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NZL to Host 2008 Tornado Worlds!!

Takapuna Beach, North Shore City as viewed from the clubhouse of the Takapuna Boating Club

Just in from Aaron Mcintosh - this will be the first world championship for an Olympic class in NZ for 24 years!!

"A day late on regatta progress.  I have been working hard on a bid to host the 2008 Tornado World Championships in Auckland.  Today was our lay day and I have just returned from the ITA AGM with news that New Zealand will host the Tornado Worlds in February 2008.  I would like to thank Paul Dunphy from North Shore City Council for making the trip to La Rochelle to help present the package and Marty Watson at YNZ for his great support in the bid.  It was unanimous decision over Melbourne. More news on the 2008 Worlds later."

Day 3: Mixed blessings at Tornado Worlds

New Zealand sailor, Aaron Mcintosh helming an Argentinean entry – and placed 26^th and 29^th on the third day of racing at the 2005 Tornado Worlds, consolidating them in 13^th position overall – rather than making the improvement into the top ten that their previous record would have indicated.

Although the top Australian crew of Darren Bundock and Aaron Worrall made overnight progress up the points table, it was more because of the allowance of a discarded race, than their performance on the water.

At the end of the third day of racing in the 2005 World Tornado Championships in La Rochelle, France, Bundock and Worrall lie in 6^th place overall. The four times world champions concluded the day with placings of 7^th and 16^th, but are still carrying a 24^th placing from the opening day of the regatta.

Tight mark rounding, under grey skies,  on Day 3 of the Tornado Worlds at La Rochelle Photos by  Benoit Hervochon

The other two Australian crews were consistent if unspectacular, with Glenn Ashby and Andrew Williams scoring 31^st in both races for 30^th overall. The other Australian crew of Robbie Lovig and Glen Douglas almost repeated the feat with placings of 41^st and 40^th to put them in 39^th position overall.

The New Zealand crew of David and Susan Shaw, from Nelson,  lie in 55th position overall in the 62 strong fleet, after placing 48th and 53rd .

The sun left La Rochelle today and although Day 3 of racing started light, the wind did not let the sailors down for Race 6.

The nice sailing condition the Tornados enjoyed yesterday did not repeat itself today. Race 5 started with delay, light winds and average of 7 knots. AUT Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher, Gold medalists in Athens and Sydney, lead the race from start to finish. 

FRA Xavier Revil and Christophe Espagnon and ESP Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz fought hard for the second place for the whole race. And the Spanish got it. Echavarri and Paz are having a very good season – they won SPA Regatta and Barcelona Olympic Week and are sailing very consistently this event. They are currently leading the event.

Race 6 had much better conditions as the wind picked up to 14 knots. The fight this time was between GRE Iordanis Paschalides/Konstantinos Trigonis and FRA Yann Guichard/Alexandre Guyader. The team from La Rochelle Guichard and Guyader took the gun.

The only female skipper in this event, Carolijn Brouwer, experienced Europe class sailor and 1998 ISAF sailor of the Year, and crew Sebastien Godefroid, Silver medalist in Savannah, are enjoying better results as the event progresses.

“We are finally waking up! We are sailing better tactically and having better starts and that comes with experience. The more we sail the more tuned up we get”, says Carolijn.

 After six races completed the sailors have now been able to discard their worst result.

New Zealand's Aaron Mcintosh described the racing this way:

"On Day 3, there was rain, rain and more rain.  We had week front move over La Rochelle with rain and very little wind.   It was a surprise that we were even sent on the water.
"Race 5: The Tornado start is the most critical part of the race.  With boats lining up over 4 minutes out from the start gun jockeying for position.  I am getting much better with my boat handling and now have the confidence to mix it with the big guns.  Any way after 4 minute of positioning I had another prefect spot lined up, when a British team barged there way into the small gap I had created to leeward.  They forced me into irons while I avoided contact, not a pretty thing in Catamaran and blew our start.  Last off the start line we played catch up boat by boat finally finishing 26th.  We sailed really well taking all the gains we could, but not the points we wanted.
"Race 6:  Another good start next to the Gold Medalists this time, we hung on to them out to the left side of the course, unfortunately the left side of the course caved in on us and we had tough lane to the top mark arriving about 12th but on port tack, we managed to tack cleanly on the mark but with a wall of Tornados coming through we lost a lot of valuable places and struggled to pull them in.  The race was really short with very few options to pass any boats. We finally finished 29th. A tough day mentally (I hate getting beaten) and  frustrating with my lack of in light air training.  It seems that there are so many little things that I can improve on that will help our racing 10 fold, we are hanging in but only just at times.
"The only conciliation was that that we were with good company with a lot of other top teams having an average day too.  We are now in 14th place overall and very close to 8th on points. It isn’t over yet."

For the third time there is a new overall points leader with the Spanish combination of Fernado Echavarri and Anton Paz taking the position on top of the leaderboard after finishing 2^nd and 17^th in the difficult conditions.  Top British crew Leigh McMillan and William Howden were consistent in holding 2^nd overall. The German crew who led overnight managed 9^th and 29^th placings today to slide down to 4^th place overall

Tomorrow no races are scheduled as it is the lay-day. The Tornados will be back on the water on Friday for 2 more races.

Full results www.srr-sailing.com  

Day 2: Aaron Mcintosh makes strong move in Tornado Worlds

New Zealand’s Aaron Mcintosh, sailing under Argentinean colours and with an Argentinean crew, has finished fifth in both races, of the 2005 Tornado World Championships and now lies in 13^th place overall.

Photos by  Benoit Hervochon Perfect sailing conditions on Day 2 of the World Championships

A bronze medallist in the mens boardsailing event in the 2000 Olympics, Mcintosh just missed qualifying New Zealand for the 2004 Olympics.

Australia’s four time World Champion Darren Bundock, with new crew Aaron Worrall have scored back to back wins at the 2005 Tornado World Champions hips being sailed at La Rochelle, France.

As a result, Bundock and Worrall have marched through the leader board to lie in 10^th place overall – a big jump from their position in the 30’s at the end of the first day’s racing.

Both crews are carrying big discards from the opening day, however when these are factored in, Mcintosh will move ahead of the Australians.

Conditions were perfect conditions for the second day of racing for the Tornados

There was no waiting today and the wind came in early with a nice consistent sea-breeze, 9-15 knots.

The fleet was in a hurry to start Race 3: after three 3 general recalls, 7 boats were black-flagged, including NED Mitch Booth/Herbert Dercksen and last year’s Youth World Champions FRA Francois Gabart/Romain David.

“The starting line was good the problem was that the boats were going over the top end to try to get to the right. But the left was actually the way to go”, explained Darren Bundock (AUS). “We were lucky with the general recalls. We hit a big jelly-fish just before the start and broke the rudder, it gave us time to fix the problem”, added Aaron Worrall (AUS).

"We were greeted with a 8-10 knot sea breeze," said Mcintosh. " With only an hour delay to racing we were into it.  After 3 false starts we were under way.  Carlos and I started well again this time winning the start at the pin end and working the favored left side of the course.  We rounded the top mark 5th.  We worked up to 3rd by the last upwind mark but were unable to hold on to the 2 boats close behind us and finished 5th again.  Frustrated to be passed so close to the finish.  Our speed is good up wind in these conditions but my real lack of  sailing hours recently is letting me down, especially down wind. "

As the sea-breeze picked up, from 9 to 12 knots, the favorites were back to the front of the fleet: AUS Darren Bundock/Aaron McIntosh took the lead from GER Roland Gaebler/ Gunnar Struckmann after the first rounding and kept the lead the whole way to the finishing line. ESP Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz crossed the line in second and GRE Iordanis Paschalides/Konstantinos Trigonis in third.

The wind picked up and the 62 Tornados started Race 4 with 15 knots and a very even course. The boats were offering an exciting show of flying hulls. Once again AUS Darren Bundock and Aaron Worrall had an excellent race and finished 1st in front of ESP Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz. Athens Silver medalists USA Johnny Lovell/Charlie Ogletree were third.

"There was a small build in wind now at 12-13 knots.  We are more comfortable in this strength of wind.  Again we started at the pin end of the start and pushed left.  Arriving at the top mark 7th with a lot of boats on our heals.  We had great first down wind staying clear of the other boats and passed 3 boats to be 4th at the bottom mark.  We were battling with Mitch Booth of Holland for 4th and 5th he finally passed us as we tacked in to a conservative position just to windward of him on a tight lay line.  We lost touch with him on the next down wind and held on to 5th from Germanys Roland Gaebler.

Other Australian crews were less impressive on the second day. Glenn Ashby and Andrew Williams were the best performed with 19^th and 23^rd placings and lie in 27^th place overall. Robbie Lovig and Glen Douglas are in 35^th place overall with placings of 31^st  and 38^th  The sole Kiwi flagged crew of david and Susan Shaw are in 56^th place overall with places of 43^rd and 52^nd

Overnight leaders, Leigh McMillan and William Howden (GBR) slipped back into second place overall after finishing 10^th and 15^th places in the two races sailed overnight. The regatta is now led by the German crew of Johannes Polgar and Florian Spalteholz.

"All in all a great day" said Mcintosh. "To have 2 top 5 placing in this fleet, with the amount of time we have recently spent sailing together is great.  Tomorrow should bring similar winds and should we get 2 races in we will be able to discard our first race. "

Racing continues tomorrow, when two more races are scheduled starting at 1330hrs.

Day 1: Interesting start for Kiwis in Tornado Worlds

After the first days racing in the 2005 Tornado World Championships in la Rochelle, New Zealand sailor Aaron Macintosh lies in 29th place, having scored a 48th place in the 62 strong fleet in the opening race. However he came back in sensational fashion in the following race placing 5th. Sailing with an Argentinean crew under and Argentinean sail number, the placing in the second race pulled Macintosh ahead of the top Australian crew of Darren Bundock and Aaron Worrall who are in 32nd place overall with places of 24th and 32nd in the opening races. Bundock is a winner of four World Championships in the Tornado class and is competing for the first time in a world championship with Worrall.

Two other Australian crews are lying in 34th and 36th place overall at the end of the first day's racing. The top USA crew is in 16th place overall.

A second New Zealand crew, David and Susan Shaw from Nelson YC are in 58th place overall with placing of 59th and 56th on the opening day of racing.                                                                                                     Photos by  Benoit Hervochon

The 62 Tornados were on stand-by on-shore for most of the day. Sitting in the boat park just waiting was no fun so the competitors welcomed the N-NW wind that arrived late in the afternoon.

“It was a tough day one, firstly waiting for the breeze to arrive and secondly the instability of it.  We waited on shore until 4 and got our first start racing by 5pm,” said Kiwi Aaron Mcintosh.

Race 1 started with 7 knots. ESP Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz had a constant race despite the very shifty wind conditions. They took the lead before the second rounding and sailed consistently to the victory. GER Jojo Polgar and Florian Spalteholz and NED Mitch Booth and Herbie Dercksen had a good recovery after a bad start and finished second and third consecutively.

“We got off the start line poorly and were rolled by 2 boats forced to tack out to the right.  We looked good 2 thirds of the way up to  the first mark but struggled on the starboard  lay line and lost a lot of places.  It seemed that we would be in the right place but not in the most  breeze and it hurt us.  A few silly mistakes around the course and lack of big fleet sailing  we  finished 48th. (There’s our discard)”, said Mcintosh
 

Race 1: Top 5 places

ESP 1           Echavarri / Paz

GER 1087    Polgar/Spalteholz

NED 1         Booth/Dercksen

ESP 2004    Garcia de Soto/Pelayo

DEN 1         Ronholt/Hansen

The wind conditions got better for Race 2, 8-10 knots, more stable. The right was favored and took teams GBR Leigh Mc Millan/Will Howden and Hugh Styles/Graham Vials to the front of the fleet, despite a bad start.

“We didn’t start well but tacked to the right as soon as we could and it definitely paid out. We had a big lead at the end. Nice race!” said Leigh McMillan.

 Photos by  Benoit Hervochon

“Angry with ourselves, we pushed hard in the start, and managed to win the boat start,” said Macintosh.  “We tacked out right into the new pressure.  We rounded the top mark 5th.  And stayed in that position for the race, our speed is good but not quite there.  The key is do the simple things well and your in the money.  Looking at the results there were a lot of other good teams  that had a day like us.”
 

Race 2 Top 5 places

GBR 436   McMillan/Howden

GBR 434   Styles/Vials

FRA 2       Guichard/Guyader

FRA 276   Balzeau/Ledoux

ARG 1      Mcintosh/Espinola

It was a long day for the sailors that only arrived back from the water past 8.00pm. But a nice table full of food was waiting for them.

“Not really how we wanted to start but, we have both had bad starts to regattas before and bounced back well.  It will be long regatta with the wind forecast to be light most of the week” said Macintosh summing up the day..
 

The first day has been dominated by English crews with four crews from Team GBR in the top ten overall. The series is led by 2004 GBR Olympic representative in the class, Leigh McMillan (Cowes) and crew William Howden, who scored a 10th and 1st placing in the two opening races..