It’s been an exciting month for Bella Mente with equally exciting headlines in the press. Check out the features on Hap Fauth and his team in Naples Daily News below. For more notable articles, visit our In The Press Section.
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Day 4 Coastal Race at Maxi 72 Rolex Worlds (Photo Credit: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi)
Bella Mente Racing currently holds the class lead for the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship, and although only one more day of racing remains, the battle is far from over, with Robertissima III and Momo at the team’s heels in second and third place, respectively.
Today, the fleet experienced trying conditions in the event’s coastal race off Porto Cervo, with just whispers of breeze following them around the already tactically-challenging course; Bella Mente took second place.
The coastal races at this regatta are always very tough – with lots of islands, lots of rocks and many short legs – so plenty of sail changes are to be expected, but today was a full ‘jungle ball’ as we call it with the becalmed conditions resulting in even more changes than usual. The fact that we only saw between six and ten knots on the racecourse, but had the boat set up for the forecasted breeze of 13-20 knots wasn’t ideal either.
However, we came away from the race with an awesome second-place finish. To come out of this event with a 1,2 in the two coastal races is fantastic and keeps us in the hunt going into Saturday. However, there is still a lot to play for so we just need to keep doing what we’re doing.
This was by far the hardest coastal race I have ever done in Porto Cervo, primarily because we all knew that we had a lot at stake with today being a determining factor in our overall standing in the championship. There wasn’t an easy moment at point on the course, with the team performing about 20 sail changes and experiencing a couple of parking-lot moments throughout.
Once again, Hap, Soapy (Ian Moore), and Doogie (Sean Couvreux) executed a good mid-line start, and from there we kept chipping away. The bow team – Doogie, Mickey (Michele Cannoni) and Pete (Henderson) – did great work through every sail change. It was great to have that type of reliability, and while we did not get everything right tactically, we were always asking the question to Robertissima III, which executed a very good race.
We go into Saturday with the opportunity to be successful. At this point, that is all we can ask.
After tomorrow’s layday, Bella Mente Racing will take to the water again on Saturday for two windward leeward races to wrap up the regatta.
For regular team updates, follow Bella Mente Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here for full class updates from the International Maxi Association
Day 3 of the Maxi 72 Worlds (Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi)
Bella Mente Racing continued to climb its way up the leaderboard today at the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship. Despite unfavorable conditions in the waters off Porto Cervo, the team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, took second-place finishes in both of today’s windward leeward races and goes into tomorrow’s coastal race in second place overall, less than two points behind fleet leader Momo. The regatta runs through Saturday, September 12 with a layday scheduled for Friday.
We had a good solid day on Bella Mente with two well-earned second-place finishes. We were greeted this morning with a lumpy northeast breeze between 14 and 16 knots, which died down to between 11 to 13 knots, as it put more onus on keeping the boat trucking and finding the best breeze. As Terry Hutchinson said in the briefing, the key is to still execute consistent conservative starts and avoid the OCS traps. We did just that, with two good launches off the line.
Momo had a better day and although we came close, she had just enough in her first cross to take the nod today. Both Jethou and Robertissima took third- and fourth-place finishes, which helped us chip our way up the leaderboard. Tomorrow’s coastal race will be another great opportunity for our team to show our mettle.”
The fleet was more aggressive in today’s pre-start, resulting in several boats being called OCS in both races. Hap, Soapy (Ian Moore) and Doogie (Sean Couvreux) deserve high marks for execution on the line; we were not always in the best spots, but we definitely benefitted when the boats around us were called over.
Momo won the day with a solid 1,1 performance. For Bella we were happy to finish the day with a 2,2, as the lumpy conditions are not the boat’s strengths; we knew from the get go that it would be a challenging day as her hull has very little rocker in it when compared to the rest of the fleet. It will be business as usual tomorrow with a coastal race – we’re hoping to keep chip, chip, chipping along!”
Although Momo had the best day today, it was still a great one for Bella Mente. If just a couple more things went our way, we could have easily come away with at least one of those wins. We experienced tough lumpy conditions in both races but came away with good starts in the two races, so close to stealing Momo’s lead but it wasn’t meant to be.
However, we are in the hunt, that’s for sure, and should see some decent breeze in tomorrow’s coastal race, which is always good for Bella Mente.
Our biggest strength right now is how strong our team is, it’s a great bunch of guys that are pushing hard to try and win this thing. We are leaving no stone unturned on the racecourse.”
For regular team updates, follow Bella Mente Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here for full class updates from the International Maxi Association
Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi
Bella Mente Racing took to the waters off Porto Cervo (Sardinia) with a bang today, winning the 38-mile coastal race in day two of the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship. Today’s breeze stepped it up a notch today, blowing between 16 and 22 knots, and Bella Mente Racing had secured its lead by the second turning mark.
The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, holds third-place overall going into day three of racing tomorrow (only a quarter of a point behind Jethou in second-place and less than three points behind the class leader Robertissima III). The regatta runs through Saturday, September 12.
We had a jib top on the long close reach and we were screaming along at 23 or 24 knots, I didn’t even look back. We put half a mile on everybody. She’s got legs when there’s a little bit of breeze and we’ve done a lot of offshore sailing, so we like this stuff.
(Fauth was unaware until he reached the dock that the mast of Caol Ila R had broken during one of the long reaches). “You hate to see that happen to anybody. We dropped a rig two years ago. Boom! If you’re racing hard… it happens.”
Today we nailed it, Hap, Terry (Hutchinson) and the guys got an excellent start, which ensured that we would be in the hunt after the first beat, and sure enough we rounded the top mark hot on Robertissima III’s heels. After a short run downwind, Hap executed a fantastic bottom-mark rounding, setting us up to pounce upwind on the next beat. After a couple of tacks, we were out in front. From there, the lead came in and out a few times as we approached the lee of the islands tracing the racecourse, but the boat was sailing fast and the guys did a great job in the maneuvers. It was a very solid race and fantastic to come away with a win.
This is my fourth Rolex Maxi Worlds, and although we won the event with Bella Mente in 2012, we had never won the coastal race until today. So to say we were keen to get that monkey off our back would be an understatement.”
It was a solid day on Bella Mente. Hap, Soapy (Ian Moore), and Doogie (Sean Couvreux) executed a consistent start that saw Bella Mente around the top mark, in second behind Robertissima III. It was ‘nip and tuck’ for the first eight miles, and as we are learning, we need to keep it close and wait for an opportunity. This opportunity was presented at the first right turning mark going up to Monaci, where Hap steered Bella Mente to within one-meter of the mark, with the sails trimmed perfectly for the turn. This gave us just enough to gain off Robertissima III. From here we nibbled away at Robertissima III’s lead, and at the second exchange we were able to get a strong lee-bow and gain control. The race was hard though as we went through a lot of sail changes. Moose (Mike Sanderson) had us nicely in phase with what sail and when; it was good to see that the cross training with coastal races from earlier in the season had paid off. We are mindful though that it is only one race and there is plenty of racing still in front of us!”
Click Here For Maxi 72 Highlight Video
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Click here for full class updates from the International Maxi Association
Click here for today’s press release from the event organizers
The Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship kicked off today in Porto Cervo, Sardinia with clear skies and light to moderate winds between six and ten knots. Bella Mente Racing and the rest of the competitive six-boat fleet took to the waters for two windward leeward races where the team finished sixth and second place, respectively, resulting in a fourth-place standing going into day two of racing tomorrow. Bella Mente is currently two points behind Momo in third place and four points behind Robertissima III and Jethou, which are tied for first.
Bella Mente Racing and the rest of the competitive six-boat Maxi 72 Class. (Photo Credit: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi)
Race one was a struggle. Hap (Fauth), Ian (Moore), and Doogie (Sean Couvreux) executed a great start and well that was the best part of the race. From there, we boat-speeded out to the left hand side with Robertissima III and Momo. Robertissima III tacked early and went about seven lengths astern of Bella Mente. Momo continued on with us and with roughly 2 minutes to the lay line she tacked. We went another 20 seconds and followed some pretty good left-hand pressure. Both boats looked to be comfortably ahead with Momo, which was leading and us (Bella Mente) in second. However, in the last two minutes of the leg it went horribly pear shaped for Bella Mente. Momo crossed the fleet and rounded in first, while Bella Mente rounded in last. From there it was a battle, but we were never really able to threaten. Robertissima III sailed the best race and ended up with a win. For race two we again executed a solid start. It was another race of snakes and ladders with the fleet always very tight. We sailed a bit looser tactically, and were rewarded for it managing a second. Although the first race was fairly disappointing, we are still in the early days of the event, so we can keep chipping from here.”
Racing resumes tomorrow and the Maxi 72 fleet will mix up the race format with a coastal course. Event organizers are predicting more breeze, with 12 to 15 knots forecasted.
The Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship is organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi Association and runs through Saturday, September 12, with a layday scheduled for Thursday.
For regular team updates, follow Bella Mente Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here for full class updates from the International Maxi Association
Media Contact: Kirsten Ferguson, kirsten.ferguson@mediapronewport.com, +1 401-330-7889
PORTO CERVO, SARDINIA, ITALY (September 6, 2015) – Bella Mente Racing has seen success at all five regattas in which it has competed this year, and this week the team’s skill will be put to the ultimate test when it takes on its final and most challenging sailing competition yet: the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship (September 7-12). The annual event is a pinnacle one for owner/driver Hap Fauth (Minneapolis, Minn./Naples, Fla.) and his team of sailors, as it attracts the best of the best in the Maxi 72 Class for six days of tight racing off Porto Cervo, Sardinia.
Bella Mente during the RYS Bicentenary International Regatta (Photo Credit: Paul Wyeth/pwpictures.com)
According to Fauth the ante has been upped for this year’s edition: “This particular class has been around for a while, but the rules were consolidated this year, making it so that all the boats on the starting line this week are rated even closer than before.” Fauth added that Bella Mente Racing, which took the championship title in 2012, will go head to head with other previous winners, including returning 2014 champion Caol Ila R (previously Alegre). The team also will battle against the 2015 Rolex Fastnet Race Winner MOMO, which is new to the Maxi 72 fleet this year. “Everyone is pushing the limit in terms of design in the hopes of getting as close to the edge of the class guidelines as possible,” said Fauth, “so all the boats on the line this week will be rated very similarly.”
Bella Mente racing in Les Voiles de St. Barth (Photo Credit: Sharon Green)
The Bella Mente Racing campaign was launched in 2006 after Fauth purchased his first Bella Mente (a Judel/Vrolijk 66 built in 2002); in 2012 he launched his third and current Bella Mente (a custom Judel/Vrolijk 72 footer). Fauth now serves as president of the Maxi 72 Class.
“What attracts me to this class in particular is the fact that both boat design and team performance have equal roles in the overall success of your race program,” said Fauth. “This class is perfect for anyone who wants an innovative hand in every part of the campaign. I enjoy this more than a box rule boat, which by definition limits you in terms of progress against other designs.”
Bella Mente Racing’s Navigator Ian Moore (Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK) expanded on that subject, adding, “The Maxi 72s have evolved to be the best IRC boat at this length, and although we are still racing under the IRC rating system, there is such a narrow spread of handicaps between the boats that we are effectively competing at a level rating. However, this is not to be mistaken for one-design, as these boats all have very diverse design backgrounds. All are built with strengths and weaknesses in different areas and must be sailed to play to those differences. This is what makes it a very special class.”
So far, the team has put on a strong performance this year in the U.S., the Caribbean and the U.K., taking line honors and the overall win at the RORC Caribbean 600 and winning its class at Quantum Key West Race Week, the Royal Yacht Squadron Bicentenary International Regatta and Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. The team even made an impressive comeback at Les Voiles de St. Barth, moving up to second place overall after suffering an equipment failure on the first day.
Unlike the previous events this year – where the team competed in handicap classes against a number of different race boats – this week will have Bella Mente and the rest of the Maxi 72 fleet under a microscope as it is one of the few opportunities when the entire class is together. “This year’s fleet feels incredibly tight, and I would suspect that this event is going to be a true game of inches,” said 2014 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and Bella Mente Tactician Terry Hutchinson (Annapolis, Md.). “Nothing will come easy, as all the teams are very good, so it is about putting on a strong performance each day if we want the opportunity to win.”
Adding to Bella Mente’s competitive edge this year is a new keel to deepen the boat’s draft as well as a new rig and sail program, all of which are complemented by a fluid team dynamic onboard.
“Not to take anything away from the great individuals we’ve had in the past, but there is no doubt that this is our most solid team to date, across the program,” said former Volvo Ocean Race winning skipper, Mike Sanderson (Auckland, N.Z.), who has been sailing onboard Bella Mente for the past four seasons. “It has been such a pleasure to be a part of something where everyone is swimming in the same direction. We are all 100 percent in this together.”
Strategist Adrian Stead (Bursledon, U.K.) is new to the team this year but a veteran when it comes to racing Maxi 72s; he served as tactician for the highly successful Rán racing program for many years. “The Worlds is always a tough week –mixing windward-leeward racing with coastal courses in this great but challenging venue against even more challenging competitors. The key to our success will be consistency and chipping away each day to make sure we are at the front of the pack by the end of the week. Every team here has done its preparation, and we feel we have got Bella Mente in its best configuration. We have great sails, a solid team and are getting the most out of the boat. The proof will be when we all line up tomorrow.”
More about Bella Mente Racing
The original Bella Mente Racing campaign kicked off in 2006 with Key West Race Week, and since then owner and skipper Hap Fauth has had two additional racing yachts in the program. Launched in Spring 2012, the current Bella Mente is a 72-foot Mini Maxi designed by judel/vrolijk yacht design and built by New England Boatworks.
Follow Bella Mente Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Sponsors for Bella Mente Racing include TSI, ESC, Tekran, DICKEY-john, Churchill Yachts, Worthington Aviation, Worthington Ag Parts and New England Boatworks.
The original Bella Mente Racing campaign kicked off in 2006 with Key West Race Week, and since then owner and skipper Hap Fauth has had three additional racing yachts in the program.
Launched in September of 2018, the current Bella Mente is a Maxi 72 designed by Botin Partners in Spain and built by New England Boatworks in Rhode Island.
