This morning, Bella Mente Racing awoke to news of another day of light wind conditions off Porto Cervo for the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship. The team experienced similar conditions yesterday, when the fleet kicked off day one of racing with a 25 mile coastal race. Today, two windward leeward races were scheduled and completed.
Day 2 of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit Jesús Renedo)
After postponements onshore, the Mini Maxi fleet headed out on the water at 11:15 a.m., but Race 2 didn’t get underway until 1:45 p.m. when the wind, coming from the northeast, crept up to seven knots.
Day 2 of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit Jesús Renedo)
“We did very well to salvage a great beat from an average start in the first race of the day, and ended up second at the top mark,” said Bella Mente Racing’s Strategist John Cutler. “We pushed the boat to its limit in trying conditions, and anytime we had a bit of a puff, Bella Mente sailed great. Once again, the crew work was flawless, and we continued to gain on Shockwave throughout the first run, and then passed them on the final beat.”
Bella Mente crossed the finish line in first place, ahead of Shockwave, but the results on corrected time were too close to call immediately. The team later found out that they finished second, just two seconds (on corrected) behind Shockwave.
Day 2 of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit Jesús Renedo)
Race 3 was started in a slightly dying breeze, but with just enough wind for the Race Committee to get things going. Bella Mente started from the pin-end, and for the upwind leg the team battled Stig and Rán 2 on the left side of the course, while Alegre and Shockwave took on the right side. The right side of the course paid off in the end and Alegre rounded in first place, followed by Rán 2, Shockwave, Stig and Bella Mente respectively. Downwind, Bella Mente was able to pass Stig, but narrowly lost to Caol Ila R, finishing the race in fifth place.
Day 2 of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (Photo Credit Jesús Renedo)
Tomorrow is forecasted to be even lighter breeze than day one and two of racing, so the Race Committee has moved the event’s lay day from Thursday up to tomorrow (Wednesday, September 4th). The final three days of racing (Thursday, September 5th through Saturday, September 7th) are looking much more promising in terms of weather conditions, with steady and building breeze forecasted.
“So far, it has been a light wind regatta, which has not favored Bella Mente,” said owner/skipper Hap Fauth. “We have sailed a tactically strong race achieving very mediocre results. Hopefully, after tomorrow’s lay day, we will have more wind and better results for the last three days of racing.”
On Thursday, the Mini Maxi fleet will race in two more windward leeward races. Keep checking in for more updates on Bella Mente Racing’s website, Facebook page and Twitter profile.
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