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Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship: Race day 3

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Two more windward leeward races were sailed today in 11-16 knots. The first race was a midline start with us being spot on the line. We worked the left side of the course and rounded just ahead of the competition at the top mark. The run went well and we got ready for the leeward mark rounding. We gybed onto final approach with 1:30 to go to the mark. All was going well and we were ready for windward drop. Just as we started the drop, something went wrong with the string and the kite stopped coming into the boat. We ended up spearing the kite with our bowsprit and having kite cloth everywhere. We still rounded the mark and worked hard to get it all back on board.  We worked hard and were able to retain the lead and still win the race.

Race 2. We started at the leeward end of the line and again worked the left side of the course. We rounded the top mark right on Ran’s stern.  We had a good set and sailed a decent run but were not able to close enough distance on them. The leeward mark rounding this time went well with the kite coming nicely. The second beat again saw us on the left side of the course with Ran keeping their distance on us.  We finished the race in second.  So for us, this was another day. We felt like we sailed well and overcame our challenges.
Tomorrow should be a coastal race.

Doogie

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship: Race Day 2

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After yesterday’s abandonment  of racing, we were all anxious to get out on the race course. The reach out to the start line was lumpy. Ran ended up breaking their boom on the reach but were able to get in and replace it in time for the start of the first race. It was a good effort on their part.

For the first race, we started to weather of most of the group and rounded the top mark in first. After the set, we quickly gybed, covering our competition. The run and leeward mark went well for us with some good boat handling and a good drop. We covered the others for the second beat, extended our lead and won the race.
On the second race, we started to leeward of the fleet, by the pin. In the last minutes, a left shift rolled through and we ended up being late to the line but all the other boats also got caught out and were more late than us. We were strong in the second half of the beat and again rounded in the lead. Stig hit the top mark right behind us, forcing them to spin a penalty turn. Our boat was going well and we held onto the lead for the rest of race.
Today was a good confidence booster for the team. There are still plenty of races to go in what will be certainly some challenging conditions. Tomorrow we will have 2 more windward leeward races.
Doogie

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship: Race Day 1

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We had a nice coastal race today in light to moderate conditions. We started in the middle of the line with a clear lane. However we missed a couple of puffs on the beat and rounded on Stig’s tail in 4th place. We bore away to a kite in 8-9 knots of breeze. It was a straight shot all the way to some rocks where we gybed and quickly went to the FRO. The change was smooth and controlled. We then reached to another mark with the FRO and jib on stand-by. About 3 minutes from the mark, the call came for a jib change. It was a bit rushed but we got it up in time. We furled, got the FRO down and settled in for a long upwind beat. The beat saw us get close to shore and too close for the Shockwave guys. They hit a rock at full speed upwind which resulted in the lifelines breaking and sending most of the crew in the water. All the crew members were ok, and after lots of work tonight, they expect to be racing tomorrow.
Once we got to the top of the course, we set to a kite at a very high angle. With a lee shore, we kept the jib up in case we couldn’t hold the kite. After that, we enjoyed a few minutes of VMG sailing before reaching again with the jib. Not to worry, the jib reaching didn’t last too long, we were soon back to the FRO. So up with the FRO and as soon as that was settled, we started setting up the next kite. After a few minutes, the kite went up, FRO furled and down and run into the finish.
The boat handling was relatively smooth with no major issues, a nice change from that horrendous race in Palma. On days like this, the guys working downstairs are working overtime. Mickey and Jesse kept getting sails thrown at them and we kept calling for more sails. As a bowman, it’s nice to have the next sail ready to go when you go for the set up. So nice work guys!
Tomorrow we are into windward leeward racing. The boat has been swapped into its inshore mode.
Stay tuned,
Doogie

About Bella Mente

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.

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