Recent News - Bella Mente Racing

Newport Bermuda: It’s A Wrap

June 24, 2014 By Bella Mente 1 Comment

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)

“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)

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)

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.”

Photo Gallery: Newport Bermuda Start

June 23, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Onne van der Wal

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Newport Bermuda Race Starts Today!

June 20, 2014 By Bella Mente 1 Comment

Bella Mente Racing bids farewell to its homeport of Newport today to embark on the 635-mile Newport Bermuda Race. In 2012, the 72-foot mini maxi won the biennial ocean classic’s Harvey Conover Memorial Trophy for being the second yacht to finish in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division (IRC).

2012 Newport Bermuda Race Copyright 2012 Daniel Forster/PPL

Bella Mente during the 2012 Newport Bermuda Race (Photo Credit: Daniel Forster/PPL)

“We have done a lot of preparation and worked as hard as possible to get where we are right now, and Bella Mente has a good opportunity to win the race,” said owner/driver Hap Fauth who has been competing in the Newport Bermuda Race on different boats since he was 16-years-old. “Distance racing is a lot different than around-the-buoys, and there are a lot of adjustments that need to be made to the boat and crew to be ready for it. It is all about slowing down and executing. Doing things safely but getting it done.”

2012 Newport Bermuda Race Fleet (Photo Credit: Daniel Forster/PPL)

Also in the 164-boat fleet is fellow mini maxi Shockwave which won the IRC class back in 2012. Bella Mente will race with 18 sailors onboard, and Fauth will be joined in the afterguard by John Cutler, Ian Moore and Mike Sanderson.

“Our strategic decisions for the first twelve hours of the race are still being decided this morning,” said Sanderson adding that the team aims to complete Newport Bermuda in less than three days. “For a boat of Bella Mente’s speed the racecourse is split into three quite distinct phases. We will sail in light air for the first 250 miles before hitting the Gulf Stream. At this point we will experience the strongest amount of water flow and could be sailing upwind in quite a lot of wind, which has the potential of being a little bit heinous. After that, we should get into some pretty nice southwesterly reaching conditions that will helpblast us to Bermuda.

The most important part of the race is when we are playing the Gulf Stream, because it is the most risky from a safety standpoint; also, if we get the currents wrong it could drastically change our speed and our outcome in the race.”

Bella Mente is racing in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division and will start off Castle Hill in Newport, R.I. today at 2:30 p.m. (EST). Follow the team live during the event through Pantaenius Race Tracking at www.pantaenius.com/NBRtracking.

Throwback Thursday: 2012 Newport Bermuda

June 19, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

A video from onboard Bella Mente during the 2012 Newport Bermuda. The team will join the 164-boat fleet for the 49th edition of the ocean classic, which kicks off tomorrow. Make sure to watch!

PHOTO GALLERY: NYYC ANNUAL

June 16, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Onne van der Wal

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Day 3: NYYC Annual Regatta

June 15, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

The breeze finally decided to make an appearance for day three of the NYYC Annual Regatta presented by Rolex, and it was a welcome change for the Bella Mente Racing Team which took first place overall in the IRC 1 class.

Rolex / Daniel Forster

“This weekend was all about us getting the systems back in place for a year of intense mini maxi racing,” said the team’s crew boss Mike Sanderson. “Everything from when we wake up in the morning to debriefing when we get off the water has to be a smooth and efficient system for the team to achieve its best. This weekend it was great to have the extremely fast Rambler and the well-rated Caol Ila R to compete against.

“Although the weather gods didn’t play ball with us, the race committee did an amazing job and we ended up with two decent races, and better then that we learned a huge amount about the configuration that we have put the boat in for this year.

: Rolex / Daniel Forster

: Rolex / Daniel Forster

: Bella Mente Racing at the 2014 Annual Regatta (Rolex / Daniel Forster)

“I have to take this opportunity to thank Pete (boat captain), Rob (project manager) and the shore team for getting the boat back in perfect condition,” added Sanderson, “and of course Hap for having us all involved in what is going to be a very exciting year in the world of Bella Mente.”

This Friday, the team will embark on the Newport Bermuda Race before 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.

Day 2: NYYC Annual Regatta

June 14, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Bella Mente Racing experienced another challenging day in Newport as yesterday’s tricky conditions for the Around the Island Race insisted on sticking around this morning. After multiple postponements onshore, the team, along with 188 other competitors, hit the water for one race.

“It was a classic westerly, northwesterly, vacuum day,” said owner/driver Hap Fauth. “An area that needs improvement is our sailing in ultra-light conditions, and the boat went very well as far as I’m concerned. We managed to get around the course without too much difficulty and placed second.

“I hope we get two races in tomorrow and a nice sea breeze would be fantastic. I’ve always loved this regatta and the New York Yacht Club is so hospitable. The entire team has been looking forward to this event.”

Day 1: NYYC Annual Regatta

June 13, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Bella Mente Racing, along with the rest of the 105 boat fleet, experienced extremely light conditions in today’s Around-the-Island Race portion of the New York Yacht Club’s Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. A breeze of 3-4 knots quickly dissolved after the start of the 19-mile race (around Jamestown, R.I.) and the race committee was forced to shorten the course to a finish at the Jamestown Bridge on the west side of the island.

Photo Credit: Rolex / Daniel Forster

“Today was always going to be tough,” said the team’s crew boss Mike Sanderson. “One thing I always love about racing in Newport is that Rhode Island has lots of active weather so you often see a wide range of conditions. Today was one of those days where we got a bit of everything.

“It was a massive game of ‘snakes and ladders’ in extremely light and fickle winds,” added Sanderson,
“and unfortunately for us we finished halfway down a “snake” just ten minutes before the race committee shortened the course, though we had been leading on the water. Tomorrow is another day and we are looking forward to racing. Fingers crossed for some lovely sailing breeze.”

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The team will hit the water again for Saturday’s and Sunday’s combined series of races, which officially constitutes the 160th New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex.

Throughout the weekend Bella Mente Racing will be posting updates via Facebook and Twitter and blog posts nightly. For event coverage please visit www.nyyc.org.

Bella Boys at the NYYC

June 13, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Onne van der Wal Photography

Bella Breaks Around Jamestown Record

June 12, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

The Bella Mente Racing Team after breaking the Mount Gay Rum Around Jamestown Record on Thursday, June 12, 2014

The Mount Gay Rum Around Jamestown Record for keelboats was broken today when Bella Mente Racing circumnavigated the 19-nautical mile (Conanicut) island in one hour, 19 minutes and 25 seconds (elapsed time). The previous monohull record was set back in October of last year by Alex Wadson’s Shaw 6.50 Manic which completed the course in two hours and 29 seconds. With 20 sailors onboard, the 72-foot mini maxi started south off Fort Adams in Newport at noon and was accompanied throughout the challenge by an easterly breeze between 12 and 16 knots. Tomorrow the team will revisit the course when it competes in IRC for the Around-the-Island portion of the 160^th New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. The team will continue in the event on Saturday and Sunday for buoy racing.