Recent News - Bella Mente Racing

All Eyes are on the Prize

February 20, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

While Olympic athletes put their skills to the test in snowy Sochi, Bella Mente Racing’s 22 world-class sailors are warming up for their next big contest of the year, the RORC Caribbean 600. Last year in the 600-mile race, the team won IRC 0 and finished second overall for IRC, and this year all sights are set on not only the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy but also the inaugural Bella Mente Trophy, which will be awarded to the first yacht (that is 100% manually powered) over the finish line in IRC. In its sixth edition, the distance race is already boasting a record number of entries and is scheduled to start Monday, February 24th off the island of Antigua.

Bella Mente (left) and Shockwave and Bella Mente (right) at Quantum Key West 2014, where the team won IRC 1 (photo credit Onne van der Wal).

“We donated the Bella Mente Trophy to RORC after last year’s event, as there should be significant recognition for first-to-finish in this iconic race, and it would be very fun if we were the first boat to take it home,” said owner/driver Hap Fauth (Minneapolis, Minn./Naples, Fla.), adding that the team started its 2014 campaign on a high note with a victory in IRC 1 at Quantum Key West in January. “We are very happy with our results in Key West, and the team is excited to get back out on the water next week. The boat arrived in Antigua yesterday, and everyone is flying in over the next few days so that we can get some practice in before Monday.”

Bella Mente (left) and Bella Mente next to ICAP Leopard (right) during last year’s RORC Caribbean 600 (Photo Credit Tim Wright).

Originally launched in 2012, the 72-foot Judel/Vrolijk designed mini maxi is Fauth’s third yacht under the Bella Mente name, and to prepare it for this year’s campaign, the team spent the last few months of2013 making updates to the boat to improve its balance and speed.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to get everything worked out with a boat, and I attribute all of Bella Mente Racing’s success to our team’s dynamic both on and off the water” said Fauth, adding that many of the sailors have been with him since 2005 when he acquired the first Bella Mente (a Judel/Vrolijk 66 built in 2002). The team won the 2006 Newport Bermuda Race on the original Bella Mente, and in 2010 Fauth purchased the second Bella Mente (a modified Reichel/Pugh 69 built in 2009) and went on to win the Transpac the following year.

“Over the years we have learned and strengthened as a team, and we have put our all into preparing for this season. We think we’re getting closer to an optimal level of racing,” added Fauth.

The team will see a strong group of contenders out on the race course next week, including George Skellaris’ mini maxi Shockwave, which fought a hard battle against Bella Mente in Key West; George David’s Rambler, which is a line-honors favorite; and Johnny Vincent’s TP 52 Pace, which is also a tough competitor.

After the RORC Caribbean 600, Bella Mente will stay south for Les Voiles de Saint Barth in April and then head north to Newport, R.I. for the month of June to race at the 160th New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex and start the 635-mile Newport Bermuda Race. Later that month, the team will race in the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Annual Regatta before shipping Bella Mente to Europe for the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE in August, the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship in September and the Rolex Middle Sea Race in October.

More about Bella Mente Racing
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 two additional racing yachts in the program. Launched in Spring 2012, the new Bella Mente is a 72-foot Mini Maxi designed by judel/vrolijk yacht design and built by New England Boatworks. Notable features include a Hall Spars mast; Southern Spars eC6 carbon rigging; running rigging supplied by T-E-C, winches and drive system by Harken and Stay in Phase; hydraulics by Navtec and Cariboni; most sails built by North Sails along with specialty Doyle Sails.

Stay up to date during racing next week by following the team on Facebook and Twitter.

Sponsors for Bella Mente Racing include TSI, ESC, Tekran, DICKEY-john, Churchill Yachts, Worthington Aviation, Worthington Ag Parts and New England Boatworks.

Antigua Bound for Caribbean 600

February 13, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Bella Mente left Cracker Boy Boat Works in Florida today and the boat is Antigua bound for the RORC Caribbean 600, which starts February 24th. Stay tuned for a full report on the team’s status coming early next week!

Throwback Thursday: 2010 NYYC Annual Regatta

February 6, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Happy #throwbackthursday! Hap Fauth and the Bella Mente Racing Team in Newport, R.I. where they took first place in IRC 1 at the 2010 NYYC Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. The team is looking forward to returning to the regatta again this summer. For more updates on the team, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BellaMenteRacing.

Photo Flashback – Last Month at Quantum Key West

February 5, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Here are some of our favorite photos from Quantum Key West Race Week 2014 – Photo Credit Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

: Quantum Key West – Onne van der Wal

Quantum Key West: Final Day Photos

January 27, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

PHOTO CREDIT: Onne van der Wal

Quantum Key West: Day 5

January 25, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Day 5 at Quantum Key West (Photo Credit Onne van der Wal)

It is shaping up to be a good year for Bella Mente Racing, which took home first place in the mini maxi class at Quantum Key West this past week. The event was the team’s racing debut for its 2014 campaign.

The final day of racing brought strong winds from 18-24 knots and although Bella Mente took third place in the last race of the series, after a hard-fought battle against Shockwave and Caol Ila R, they were able to keep the class lead overall.

The team is happy with the results that the week yielded, and looks forward to seven more exciting events this year. Next up, is the RORC Caribbean 600.

Owner/Driver Hap Fauth accepts the award for first place in IRC 1

Owner/Driver Hap Fauth accepts the award for first overall in IRC 1 – Mini Maxi

Quantum Key West: Day 4

January 24, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Day 4 at Quantum Key West (Photo Credit Onne van der Wal)

It was an all-out battle in IRC A today at Quantum Key West, and Bella Mente Racing experienced the wrath of Shockwave, which came back with vengeance after retiring from yesterday’s races due to equipment failure. Bella Mente holds the lead by three points going into the final day of racing tomorrow.

“It was extremely competitive out on the race course today,” said owner/driver Hap Fauth, adding that Bella Mente finished the first race with a bullet, but the last two races of the day went to Shockwave. “One mistake and you get flushed to the back of the fleet, which is what we did in the second race.”

In race two, Bella Mente was over the line early, and was able to pass Caol Ila R on the first beat, but couldn’t catch Shockwave. The team crossed the finish line in second, but took third place on corrected time.

There were no major obstacles in race three, and though Bella Mente crossed the finish line first, there was too little a time gap, and Shockwave won the race on corrected time.

Keep up to date on Bella Mente Racing at Quantum Key West Race Week by following the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For real time updates, follow the event via livestream at http://premiere-racing.com/QKWLive/

Quantum Key West: Mid-Week Photo Roundup

January 23, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

PHOTO CREDIT: Onne van der Wal

Quantum Key West: Day 3

January 23, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Photo Courtesy of Quantum Key West

At Quantum Key West Race Week, the third day was the charm for Bella Mente Racing, which won all three of its races in IRC A. The team holds the class lead going into day four of the regatta.

“Today was the first time this week that we had nice conditions,” said Bella Mente Racing Coach, Tom McLaughlin adding that the day brought clear skies, flat water and breeze between twelve and sixteen knots of wind. “The good thing about today was that the calm weather gave the boat and the crew time to settle in, and we learned quite a bit because we were able to change things onboard and then look at the results. The bad thing about the day was that we lost our chief competitor Shockwave right after the start of the first race due to a serious problem with their propulsion system. However, we expect that they will be back on the racecourse tomorrow with their gloves off.”

Thursday’s forecast is comparable in terms of wind speed, but will be accompanied by a cold front and rainstorms similar to what competitors experienced earlier this week.

Bella Mente Racing Crew Boss Mike Sanderson:

“We are here in Key West to kick-start our 2014 season and test out the new modifications to the boat on the water. It was great sailing today and we are looking forward to the rest of the week.”

Quantum Key West: Day 2

January 22, 2014 By Bella Mente Leave a Comment

Stormy conditions added more drama to day two of Quantum Key West Race Week, and after an epic battle on the race course Bella Mente Racing came in second place, behind Caol Ila Ron, in IRC A’s only race of the day, putting the team in second overall going into day three.

“The Bella boys did a fantastic job in very tough conditions,” said owner/driver Hap Fauth, adding that the team was first to cross the finish line, but was 10 seconds short of first on corrected time. “It has been excellent racing in the mini maxi fleet and we look forward to what tomorrow will bring.”

The day started after two hours of postponement due to a dramatic wind shift. The race started in 13 knots of breeze and Bella Mente got a clean start at the signal boat. By the time the fleet had made it to the first windward mark, the breeze had died down to nine and a half knots. Bella Mente rounded just behind Shockwave, but caught up on the first downwind leg and passed the team before the leeward mark. A squall hit the racecourse on the second beat, and the fleet experienced heavy winds up to 24 knots. On the second downwind run, Bella Mente held a strong lead, but Shockwave was able to close the gap and narrow the team’s lead. Bella Mente rounded the leeward mark with a 25 second lead on the Shockwave, which then hit its spinnaker sheet on the mark, forcing the team to do a penalty turn. The Bella Mente Racing Team finished the race just short of Caol Ila Ron corrected time.