The first day of racing started with a whimper, as the Wind Gods failed to live up to their blustery reputation in Porto Cervo. Bella Mente Racing wrestled with precarious conditions in the first coastal race of the 2013 Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship, finishing in ninth place.
Day 1 of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit Jesús Renedo)
Today began with an hour and a half of postponements onshore followed by a race start in just 7-8 knots of wind. However, the Race Committee handled the marginal weather conditions with grace, taking the Mini Maxi fleet on a two mile windward beat, followed by a 25 mile coastal course, comprised of classic Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup landmarks: an eight mile run around the Island of Mortorio, a passage through Capo Ferro and roundings of Monaci and Secca di Tre Monti before a finish in Porto Cervo.
Day 1 of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit Jesús Renedo)
Bella Mente battled the Italian entry Stig on the beat up to the Monaci rounding, and the second-to-last leg of the race was a tricky run, which included a jib reach into the Gulf of Pevero.
Day 1 of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit Jesús Renedo)
The crew work onboard Bella Mente was flawless today. Hap and the team have already shaken off today’s results and look forward to tomorrow’s racing, which will include two windward leeward races. Stay tuned!
(View the event’s coastal courses by visiting, http://www.yccs.it/images/
Day 1 of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit Jesús Renedo)
Ted says
Let go Boy’s ! Good luck fromn Rhode Island!