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Key West Race Week: Day 2

January 20, 2015 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Bella Mente Racing went into day two of Quantum Key West Race Week with guns blazing and wrapped up both IRC 1 races with bullets. The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, holds the lead going into tomorrow.

Owner Hap Fauth at the helm during day two of Quantum Key West Race Week (Photo Credit: Ultimate Sailing/Sharon Green)

Owner Hap Fauth at the helm during day two of Quantum Key West Race Week 2014 (Photo Credit: Sharon Green/UltimateSailing.com)

“Our starts were on target,” said Fauth adding that the fleet experienced some light shifty conditions today (around nine knots). “The crew work was impeccable. Our tactician Terry [Hutchinson] did a great job calling the shifts, and crew boss Moose [Mike Sanderson] was a star downwind. All and all, it was a great day on the water.”

Hutchinson, current Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, added, “it was a solid day but very hard fought. Shockwave sailed very well and kept the pressure on Bella Mente in both races. Though we finished with two firsts, the other two boats in our class weren’t far behind, and we haven’t even hit the halfway point of the regatta so we need to stay focused. There is still a lot of work ahead.”

Bella Mente during day two of Quantum Key West Race Week 2015 (Photo Credit: Steve Lapkin)

Hutchinson added that the team was happy with Bella Mente’s speed in light air.

“We have new mast, new trimmers, and new gear, all of which are interacting well. However, we are still only scratching the surface,” said Hutchinson. “I think Pete [Henderson] summed it up best when he described the adjustments in the new mast by saying ‘we are just beginning to learn the gears we have and still have a lot of work to do.’”

Click here for event press release in Scuttlebutt

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Ready to Rumble Next Year

December 11, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Bella Mente Racing Wraps Up Sea Trials

Bella Mente Racing wrapped up its four-day practice session in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this morning. The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, focused a majority of the time tuning the rig and doing sail checks in preparation for its 2015 Campaign.

Bella Mente Racing off Fort Lauderdale during this week’s practice session (Photo Credit: Bella Mente/Kirsten Ferguson)

“We have a bunch of new systems in place,” said Bella Mente Racing’s tactician Terry Hutchinson adding that the Maxi72 has a new Southern Spars rig and some new Quantum Stratis sails. “This week was about not only practicing with the team, but also understanding our equipment onboard and developing confidence in it. Three days ago, we sailed down the Gulf Stream, from Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale, in 20 knots of breeze which was a really great test of everything, especially the mast.”

Tactician Terry Hutchinson taking Bella Mente on a “code zero” reach from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale (Video Credit: Bella Mente/Rob Ouellette)

The team also welcomed eight new sailors to the crew, and used practice to get acquainted. “Our expectations are high going into 2015,” added Hutchinson. “I am not yet sure what our outcome will be, because we have so many new moving pieces, but I am confident that we have very good people with us that are committed to Bella Mente’s cause. Having everyone pointed in the same direction and working hard to get there, that in itself is worth its weight in gold.”

Bella Mente Racing during today’s light wind sea trials (Photo Credit: Bella Mente/Kirsten Ferguson)

After the holidays, the team will head to Key West to kick off its 2015 campaign at Quantum Key West Race Week.

For more updates on the team, follow Bella Mente Racing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship: Wrap

September 9, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

After a week of epic battles off Porto Cervo (Sardinia), Bella Mente Racing concluded the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championships on Saturday (Sept. 6) with fourth place overall. The team’s fearless leader, owner/driver Hap Fauth, was awarded the event’s Alberini Trophy for exemplary sportsmanship both on and off the water.

Owner/Driver Hap Fauth awarded the Alberini Trophy at the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit: Jesus Renedo)

Owner/Driver Hap Fauth accepting the Alberini Trophy at the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit: Jesus Renedo)

“Hap is always graceful in victory and defeat,” said Mike Sanderson who joined Fauth along with Terry Hutchinson, John Cutler and Ian Moore in the afterguard for all five days of racing. “He is most definitely the man of the moment, and it was great to see that our team wasn’t the only one that recognizes this. On the last day he was already enthusiastic, talking about how we can improve the boat and team for next time. We are looking forward to doing just that.”

Day 5 at the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championships (Photo Credit: Jesus Renedo)

On the final day of the event, Bella Mente Racing was relieved to have some good breeze as the previous four days had brought light winds. Sanderson added, “This allowed us to stretch our legs and really see how we sat against the competition. The good news is that we were very much on pace, but unfortunately Saturday’s conditions weren’t enough to move us up in the rankings. If we had at least one or two more days where the wind speed got into the teens, it could have been quite a different regatta.

Day 5 at the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championships (Photo Credit: Jesus Renedo)

“We can’t say we are leaving Sardinia happy; we had high expectations and anything short of a win was always going to be disappointing. However, we brought a strong team to the event and fought hard in every race. It just wasn’t our week.”

This summer’s Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship marks the end of Bella Mente Racing’s 2014 campaign, but the team is already strategizing improvements for next year. Stay tuned this fall for updates on the 2015 campaign.

For more updates, follow Bella Mente Racing on Facebook and Twitter

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship: Day 4

September 5, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

The Mini Maxi Rolex World Championships will be full of showdowns tomorrow, with Bella Mente Racing along with six other tough competitors going into the final day of racing, all vying for a podium finish. The fleet of seven has been racing since Monday, September 1 and wrapped up its second coastal race of the week today off Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championships Day 4 (Photo Credit Jesus Renedo)

“It was a tough day for a coastal race,” said Terry Hutchinson who joins owner/driver Hap Fauth along with Mike Sanderson, John Cutler and Ian Moore in the afterguard. “The first beat was 1.6 miles sailed in seven knots of true wind speed. From there it was follow the leader, Alegre. Bella Mente fought hard all day and it is hard to not be disappointed, as the effort was not reflected in our result. Tomorrow is a new day, we will get back up and fight!”

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championships Day 4 (Photo Credit Jesus Renedo)

Currently, the team is only two points from third place, which is currently occupied by Niklas Zennstrom’s Ran 5. Tomorrow’s racing will include two windward leeward races.

“The goal for tomorrow is to finish strong and make our way onto the podium. It will be no easy task, but I am confident Bella Mente is up for the challenge.”

Full Gallery from the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championships Day 4 (Photo Credit Jesus Renedo)

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship: Day 3

September 3, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Bella Mente Racing experienced a challenging day three in the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship. The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, took to the waters off Porto Cervo, Sardinia for two windward/leeward races and finished in seventh and fourth place, respectively. The team currently stands in fourth place overall.

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship Day 3 (Photo Credit Jesus Renedo)

“Today’s moderate wind strengths and choppy seas was a little tough for the boat today,” said the team’s crew boss Mike Sanderson. “The good thing about this event is that the mini maxi fleet keeps mixing it up and you never know what boat is going to take the win for the day. For example, Shockwave had it tough early this week but had a great day today.”

The team will take some time off to strategize tomorrow for the event’s designated lay day and pick up racing again on Friday (Sept. 5).

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship Day 3 (Photo Credit Jesus Renedo)

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship: Day 2

September 2, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Bella Mente Racing took fourth place in both races in day two of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championships and goes into tomorrow holding fourth place overall. The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, tested their short-course racing skills off Porto Cervo, Sardinia with two 8 nautical mile windward/leeward courses against six other mini maxis.

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship Day 2 (Photo Credit Jesus Renedo)

“Although we missed our goal of top three by three points today, we had a couple of great comebacks,” said Tactician Terry Hutchinson. “Tomorrow is a new day. We have plenty to debrief on before then.”

Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship Day 2 (Photo Credit Jesus Renedo)

The team’s Crew Boss Mike Sanderson added, “We always knew that this regatta was going to be a tough one, and today certainly wasn’t easy.

“Every team that is in the mini maxi fleet came here with all the tools necessary to win. We underwent a few unlucky situations today, so for us to salvage fourth places finishes wasn’t all that bad,” said Sanderson. “Throughout the day, we stayed tight with the fleet and kept fighting right to the very end of both races, which paid off and allowed us to gain valuable points. Having a team that can pull off a comeback, like the one today, will keep us in the running later on this week.”

The team will continue racing through Saturday (September 6) with windward leeward courses planned for tomorrow (Wednesday, September 3).

For a full report from event organizers, visit http://bit.ly/1rL8trv

Day 2 Gallery (Photo Credit: Jesus Renedo)