2024 IMA Maxi European Championship

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Copa del Rey: Day 3

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Photo Credit: Jesús Renedo

Photo Credit: Jesús Renedo

Bella Mente Racing took the win in today’s coastal race at the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. The sailing team of 20, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, is tied for second place with fellow mini maxi team onboard Robertissima III.

“It was a better day for us,” said Fauth adding that Bella Mente had slipped down to fourth place on Tuesday after taking third and fourth place finishes in the two windward leeward races of the day. “We had great boat speed and the crew execution was impeccable and very in sync with the wind shifts.”

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Photo Credit: Jesús Renedo

Bella Mente Racing’s Boat Captain Peter Henderson added that today’s coastal race was approximately 30 miles in total and the team experienced a nice southwesterly sea breeze, maxing out at 13 knots, off the coast of Mallorca in the afternoon. “We had a good start, but it was pretty tight with the rest of the fleet up the first beat and we rounded just behind Shockwave,” said Henderson. “We passed Shockwave on the first run and were able to capitalize and build on our lead, but the competition was super close throughout the track so it was a nail-biter up until the finish. I’m looking forward to what the rest of the week brings.”

Tomorrow, the team will transition back into buoy-to-buoy racing against competitors in IRC 0. “We still have six more races to complete in this regatta so there is a lot of opportunity for us to win,” added John Cutler who joins Fauth and Mike Sanderson in the afterguard.

Photo Credit: Jesús Renedo

Photo Credit: Jesús Renedo

Tune in through Saturday (August 9) for more nightly reports featuring Hap Fauth, Mike Sanderson, John Cutler and Peter Henderson. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

Copa del Rey: Day 2

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Bella Mente Racing goes into day three at the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE tomorrow (August 6). Here are pictures from today’s racing. 

Copa del Rey: Day 1

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Copa del rey 2014, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Bella Mente Racing took to the Bay of Palma today for day one of competition in the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, finished IRC 0’s two races in second and fourth place, respectively, and is currently tied for second with fellow mini maxi Alegre.

Copa del rey 2014, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

“It was a very solid first day for Bella Mente,” said Mike Sanderson, the team’s crew boss. “The boat is going quick enough to win the event. Don’t get me wrong, all of the other mini maxis are also sailing fast, but if we can keep pushing we have a shot at the top position, which is always a good feeling.”

Copa del rey 2014, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

The team will continue racing through Saturday, August 9. Tune in for more nightly reports featuring Hap Fauth, Mike Sanderson, John Cutler and Peter Henderson. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

Photo Gallery: Day 1 at 2014 Copa del Rey

 

 

 

 

Copa del Rey Starts Tomorrow

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Bella Mente Racing wrapped up a five-day practice session this afternoon and kicks off racing in the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. For six days (August 4-9) the boat will race on the Bay of Palma in Mallorca, Spain against fellow mini maxis.

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“Bella Mente performed great today on the practice course,” said Robert Ouellette, Bella Mente Racing’s project manager. “We had most of the mini maxis out there today, including Robertissima III, Jethou and Alegre. Shockwave had an early day and did not participate in the practice racing.

“Today we focused on ‘starting’ drills, and windward leeward courses. All is well with the boat, the new sails and the crew.  The training session was well worth it, and we look forward to taking the positive developments from it into the week ahead of us.”

Bella Mente Racing will be doing nightly race reports Monday through Saturday featuring sound bites from  Hap Fauth, Mike Sanderson, John Cutler and Peter Henderson and photos by Jesus Renedo. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

Copa del Rey: Practice Day 2

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Today marked Bella Mente Racing’s second day of practice on the waters off Mallorca, Spain. The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, kicks off racing at the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE on Monday, August 4.

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(Photo Credit: Tom Burnham)

“It’s a luxury having five days of practice leading up to this regatta as it is a great opportunity for us to work with the new boat configuration, mast modifications and sails before the

2014 Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship,” said the team’s Crew Boss Mike Sanderson adding that the team will be racing against a large group of mini maxis next week. “Copa del Rey is a great event where we get to put our best foot forward against the opposition. The boat is feeling great so bring it on.”

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(Photo Credit: Tom Burnham)

Bella Mente Racing will be doing nightly race reports next week. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

Marathon on the Mediterranean

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It will be a marathon on the water for Bella Mente Racing next week, when it takes on six days (August 4-9) of tough mini maxi competition at the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. The team arrived in Mallorca, Spain earlier this week and kicked off practice today on the Bay of Palma.

Bella Mente practicing on the Bay of Palma today

Bella Mente practicing on the Bay of Palma today

“The boat is in pristine condition following her voyage from Bermuda earlier this month,” said Robert Ouellette, Bella Mente Racing’s project manager adding that the team will be practicing up until the event starts on Monday, August 4. “We underwent our annual ‘checkup’ on Tuesday where we weighed Bella Mente and had her measured. We are using the next few days to check the systems onboard, look at the new sails and get back in the groove in terms of onboard crew work.”

Bella Mente practicing on the Bay of Palma today

Bella Mente practicing on the Bay of Palma today

Earlier this year, the team wrapped up its U.S. and Caribbean Circuit with line honors at the RORC Caribbean 600 (where it outran expected frontrunner, the 90-foot Rambler), the class win at Quantum Key West and first place in IRC Overall at the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. The team was also second to cross the finish line in the 635-mile Newport Bermuda Race.

Copa del Rey is one of the largest events on its Mediterranean Racing Calendar, and the team will do battle against many competitors it will see again at the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship in September, including Shockwave, Robertissima III (former RAN), Jethou and Alegre.

“It will be a very competitive event, and we are looking forward to getting a few days of practice under our belt to shake out the cobwebs before racing starts on Monday,” said Ouellette.

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Bella Mente earlier this week in Mallorca, Spain

Bella Mente Racing will be doing nightly race reports next week. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

European Circuit Kicks Off in August

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31 Copa del Rey Mapfre in 2012 was the last time the team competed.

31 Copa del Rey Mapfre in 2012 was the last time the team competed.

In less than two weeks, Bella Mente Racing will kick off its European racing circuit in Palma Mallorca for the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. For six days (August 4-9), the 72-foot Judel/Vrolijk designed Bella Mente will do battle on the Bay of Palma against four other mini maxis, including Italian entry Alegre, which is defending its 2013 class title. Following the event, the team will go on to race at the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship in September and the Rolex Middle Sea Race in October.

For the latest mini maxi news at Regata Copa del Rey Mapfre, visit http://bit.ly/1noh1Rh

For the latest mini maxi news at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, visit http://bit.ly/1mMtB7S

 

 

Last Friday We Were On Our Way to Bermuda

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Photo Gallery: Onboard shots of Bella Mente Racing during the 2014 Newport Bermuda Race

Newport Bermuda: It’s A Wrap

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After a dramatic 635-mile duel with Shockwave, Bella Mente completed the Newport Bermuda Race yesterday morning (Monday, June 23) at 6:41 a.m. local time, just minutes behind the fellow mini maxi which claimed line honors. Bella Mente was the second boat to finish, crossing the line, off Bermuda’s St. David Lighthouse, with an elapsed time of 63 hours, 11 minutes and 25 seconds. The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, sailed with 18 onboard in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division (IRC).

Bella Mente Racing after the start of the Newport Bermuda Race in R.I. (Photo Credit Onne van der Wal)

Bella Mente Racing after the start of the Newport Bermuda Race in R.I. (Photo Credit: Onne van der Wal)

“It was a extremely tricky and technical race,” said Bella Mente Racing’s Navigator Ian Moore. “The boys sailed really well and pushed the boat hard for two days straight. We did a great job of coming from behind Shockwave to finish on their transom.”

The race, which kicked off last Friday (June 20) in Newport, R.I., showed its 164- boat fleet a variety of different weather conditions throughout the weekend.

Bella Mente side-by-side with Caol Ila R after the start of the Newport Bermuda Race in R.I. (Photo Credit Onne van der Wal)

Bella Mente side-by-side with Caol Ila R after the start of the Newport Bermuda Race in R.I. (Photo Credit: Onne van der Wal)

The Newport Bermuda Race lived up to its tough ocean classic reputation,” said Mike Sanderson who serves as the team’s offshore helmsman. “It was a brutal three days: from the converging breezes on the start line to a crossing cold front in the Gulf Stream on the final day.

“We held the lead on the first day, but being ahead showed to be a disadvantage, and by day break on Saturday we were about 25 miles behind Shockwave and seven or eight behind Caol Ila R. We fought back on Saturday, passing Caol Ila R, but Shockwave did an incredible job protecting their position throughout the rest of the race.

“Overall, the competition was intense and the team and the boat did an awesome job. We came here for a great race and we certainly got it,” said Sanderson adding that there are still many boats racing in the Newport Bermuda Race and results are yet to be finalized. “Congratulations to the team onboard Shockwave; they sailed a great and bold race and deserve to win on corrected time as well.”

Hap Fauth, owner/driver of Bella Mente, congratulates George Sakellaris, owner of Shockwave upon arrival at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. (Photo Credit: Barry Pickthall/PPL)

Hap Fauth, owner/driver of Bella Mente, congratulates George Sakellaris, owner of Shockwave upon arrival at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. (Photo Credit: Barry Pickthall/PPL)

The team will soon be heading across the Atlantic to embark on its European circuit, which includes the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE in August, the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship in September and the Rolex Middle Sea Race in October.

“For the Bella Team it’s onwards and upwards,” added Sanderson, “and our hunger to win in Europe has only gotten a whole lot greater.”

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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Bella Mente has been crowned IMA’s Maxi European Champion. Owner and helmsman Hap Fauth reflected on the journey, stating: “Today marked the culmination of some insightful changes in Bella Mente's internal design. She’s finally starting to reach her potential after five years. It’s truly rewarding for the crew and her owner. We’re looking forward to our next adventure in the SORC regatta!”