Ciao Italia! Bella Mente Racing has officially departed the Port of Olbia, Italy for the USA today! Thank you for a great season in the Mediterranean!
(Photo Credit: Bella Mente/Oliver Dickens – September 25th, 2017)
Ciao Italia! Bella Mente Racing has officially departed the Port of Olbia, Italy for the USA today! Thank you for a great season in the Mediterranean!
(Photo Credit: Bella Mente/Oliver Dickens – September 25th, 2017)
After a week of fighting tooth and nail against Maxi 72 rivals, Bella Mente Racing wrapped up the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championships in Porto Cervo, Sardinia earlier this month, taking third place overall. The regatta is the team’s pinnacle event each year and concludes its 2017 campaign.
“Thanks to the Bella Mente Racing team for their dedication and commitment to our effort this year, and standby for new developments with the boat,” said Owner/Driver Hap Fauth who has helmed Bella Mente in The Maxi 72 Worlds for the last six years, three of those times taking the championship title. “The Maxi 72 fleet gets better and better each year. This past week allowed us to match up against four other top Maxi 72 teams, and it was incredible to see how fast and competitive they all are. A big congratulations to Dieter Schön and his Momo crew, which turned in an excellent performance on the water.”
The regatta started off on a high note for Bella Mente Racing, with the team playing the light winds and shifts to their favor and winning the first day of racing. But as the week progressed, the breeze built, and Momo moved to the front of the pack. Bella Mente closed the gap between the leading boats significantly on the final day when it finished first and second in the last two races, finishing in third place overall – less than two points behind Momo in first place and less than one point behind Proteus in second place.
“The 2017 Maxi 72 World Championship event was a game of two halves,” said Tactician Terry Hutchinson, adding that Bella Mente’s performance peaked on the days when the breeze was below 12 knots but fell behind when it built to 15 knots and above. “There was a clear distinction between our performance compared to that of the three newer boats (Momo, Cannonball and Proteus), and this gives the team an area of focus as we go into our off season. Collectively, we need to evaluate our performance using sailor impressions and the performance analysis systems in place to develop our work list. The trend that we saw in Porto Cervo has been on display all year, yet I would say that Bella Mente was closer to the others at this event.”
Standby for new developments from Bella Mente Racing.
For more information, visit https://bellamenteracing.com/. Follow Bella Mente Racing on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
Sponsors for Bella Mente Racing include TSI, ESC, Tekran, DICKEY-john, Churchill Yachts,Worthington Aviation, Worthington Ag Parts and MSP.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Media Pro Int’l, Kirsten Ferguson, kirsten.ferguson@mediapronewport.com, 401-330-7889
PRESS RELEASE: Newport, R.I. (September 19, 2017) – After a week of fighting tooth and nail against Maxi 72 rivals, Bella Mente Racing wrapped up the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championships in Porto Cervo, Sardinia earlier this month, taking third place overall. The regatta is the team’s pinnacle event each year and concludes its 2017 campaign.
“Thanks to the Bella Mente Racing team for their dedication and commitment to our effort this year, and standby for new developments with the boat,” said Owner/Driver Hap Fauth who has helmed Bella Mente in The Maxi 72 Worlds for the last six years, three of those times taking the championship title. “The Maxi 72 fleet gets better and better each year. This past week allowed us to match up against four other top Maxi 72 teams, and it was incredible to see how fast and competitive they all are. A big congratulations to Dieter Schön and his Momo crew, which turned in an excellent performance on the water.”
The regatta started off on a high note for Bella Mente Racing, with the team playing the light winds and shifts to their favor and winning the first day of racing. But as the week progressed, the breeze built, and Momo moved to the front of the pack. Bella Mente closed the gap between the leading boats significantly on the final day when it finished first and second in the last two races, finishing in third place overall – less than two points behind Momo in first place and less than one point behind Proteus in second place.
“The 2017 Maxi 72 World Championship event was a game of two halves,” said Tactician Terry Hutchinson, adding that Bella Mente’s performance peaked on the days when the breeze was below 12 knots but fell behind when it built to 15 knots and above. “There was a clear distinction between our performance compared to that of the three newer boats (Momo, Cannonball and Proteus), and this gives the team an area of focus as we go into our off season. Collectively, we need to evaluate our performance using sailor impressions and the performance analysis systems in place to develop our work list. The trend that we saw in Porto Cervo has been on display all year, yet I would say that Bella Mente was closer to the others at this event.”
Standby for new developments from Bella Mente Racing.
For more information, visit https://bellamenteracing.com/. Follow Bella Mente Racing on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
Sponsors for Bella Mente Racing include TSI, ESC, Tekran, DICKEY-john, Churchill Yachts,Worthington Aviation, Worthington Ag Parts and MSP.
Congratulations to they entire Maxi72 Class. Bella Mente overall 3rd in this years Championship. Congratulations Momo. #rolex #yccs50#yccs_portocervo #hapatthehelm #bellamenteracing
by YCCS on 9 Sep
Today was the second to last day of racing at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup & Rolex Maxi72 World Championship, the annual event organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with Title Sponsor Rolex and the International Maxi Association.
The lull in the wind that the fleet was dreading didn’t appear and today was another exceptional day of racing in Mistral breezes at 12 to 15 knots along a 34.5 nm coastal course.
Currently in the lead of the provisional results at just a day from the end of the event are Momo (Maxi72), Ribelle (Supermaxi), Highland Fling XI (Maxi), Nahita (Wally), Jethou (Mini Maxi R), Supernikka (Mini Maxi RC1) and Shirlaf (Mini Maxi RC2).
Starting procedures got underway punctually at 11:30 AM in the waters off Porto Cervo. The yachts headed upwind to Passo delle Bisce and up to the Secca di Tre Monti in the Arzachena Gulf. Once they had rounded the Secca, the fleet sailed counter clockwise around the islands of Caprera, La Maddalena and Spargi and then back to Porto Cervo.
There were head to head match races in all Classes and tactical attempts to get an edge on rivals set against the spectacular natural scenery of the Arcipelago della Maddalena’s landscape. The battle between the Maxi72s was especially hard fought: Caol Ila R got her groove right off the start and took the lead while Bella Mente and Momo both struggled after getting OCS penalties. Caol Ila R arrived at the finish in the lead in real time, 12 seconds ahead of Cannonball. But on corrected time the latter yacht won by four seconds. ‘It was real fun and a great satisfaction,’ said Cannonball’s tactician Vasco Vascotto with a smile. ‘Today’s win is dedicated as much to our owner, Dario Ferrari, as to the part of the team we left on the docks when we thought that air would be too light to sail with a full roster. In the Maxi72 Class you can really sail close and hard; it’s a Class where lots of top sailors compete in boats that come within inches of each other. Pure emotion!’
With today’s win in the Supermaxi Class, Ribelle, owned by YCCS members Salvatore and Paola Trifirò, has already technically won the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup a day before it has ended. ‘It really has been a wonderful event,’ said helmsman Francesco De Angelis. ‘Ribelle is racing in a very competitive Class against boats that are very similar to her. Our boat is new, but has been getting better all the time. Today we took advantage of a chance we had to cinch the win and we got it.’
Another sure win is Jethou in the Mini Maxi Class: this yacht has placed first every day she has raced so far. Spectre and Lucky trail her at a fair distance. In the Maxi Class, today was the day for the Swan 90 Nefertiti owned by Juan Ball. She placed ahead of Highland Fling XI, leader who retains the lead overall in the Class.
The last day of racing will be decisive in the Wally Class: the 80′ Nahita placed first today and is currently in the lead by two points on Galateia and Lyra who are tied for second place.
It’s a close race in the Mini Maxi RC1 Class: Roberto Lauro’s Swan 601 Wohpe placed first today followed by Supernikka, still in the lead overall, and Wallyño. Giuseppe Puttini’s Swan 65 Shirlaf won the Mini Maxi RC2 Class and is tied for first place with Riccardo De Michele’s Vallicelli 80′ H2O.
Tonight is the highly anticipated Rolex Gala Dinner and tomorrow, September 9th will be the final day at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2017. The Maxi72 and Mini Maxi Racer Classes will do windward-leeward courses, while all other Classes will do a coastal race that is scheduled to start at 11:30.
Full Results:
Super Maxi | |||||||||||
Pos | Sail nr. | Class | Yacht | Owner | Type | Designer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Points |
1 | RIBELLE | SMAXI | RIBELLE | SALVATORE TRIFIRO’ | SLOOP | MCKEON | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
2 | WINWIN | SMAXI | WINWIN | SCORPION LIMITED | SUPERYACHT | JAVIER JAUDENES | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
3 | GBR112L | SMAXI | NILAYA | FICAYA LTD | BALTIC 112 R/P | PUGH/NAUTA | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
4 | SUI3066 | SMAXI | INOUI | MARCO VOGELE | BRIAND 108 | BRIAND | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
5 | ITA1746 | SMAXI | VIRIELLA | VITTORIO MORETTI | FRERS 118′ | FRERS | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 18 |
Maxi | |||||||||||
Pos | Sail nr. | Class | Yacht | Owner | Type | Designer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Points |
1 | MON888 | MAXI | HIGHLAND FLING 11 R | IRVINE LAIDLAW | RP 82 CUSTOM | FRERS | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
2 | USA25555 | MAXI | RAMBLER 88 R | GEORGE DAVID | CANTING KEEL | JUAN K | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
3 | GBR9059R | MAXI | NEFERTITI | JUAN BALL | SWAN 90 | FRERS | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
4 | CAN54321 | MAXI | SORCERESS | WILL APOLD | SOUTHERNWIND 96 | FARR/NAUTA | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
5 | ITA15333 | MAXI | WIZARD | SEVI FRUSCELLA | VALLICELLI 80 | VALLICELLI | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
6 | ITA44683 | MAXI | DIABLESSE | DIABLESSE YACHT LTD | SLOOP 92 | FRANCIS | 7 DNF |
7 DNC |
6 | 7 DNC |
27 |
Mini Maxi R | |||||||||||
Pos | Sail nr. | Class | Yacht | Owner | Type | Designer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Points |
1 | GBR74R | MINI MAXI R | JETHOU | SIR PETER OGDEN | MINI MAXI | VROLIJK | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
2 | GBR60X | MINI MAXI R | SPECTRE | PETER DUBENS | PD 60 | FRERS | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
3 | USA60010 | MINI MAXI R | LUCKY | BRYON EHRHART | RP 63 | REICHEL PUGH | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 DNF |
12 |
4 | USA7744 | MINI MAXI R | ADELASIA DI TORRES | RENATO AZARA | PROTOTYPE | DAVIDSON | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 15 |
Mini Maxi RC 1 | |||||||||||
Pos | Sail nr. | Class | Yacht | Owner | Type | Designer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Points |
1 | ITA77773 | MINI MAXI RC1 | SUPERNIKKA | ROBERTO LACORTE | VISMARA 62 RC | VISMARA / MILLS | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
2 | W80 | MINI MAXI RC1 | WALLYNO | DE FROIDMONT | WALLY 60 | FARR | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
3 | MON777 | MINI MAXI RC1 | WOHPE | ROBERTO LAURO | SWAN 601 | FRERS | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 15 |
4 | FRA60101 | MINI MAXI RC1 | AROBAS | GERARD LOGEL | SWAN 601 | FRERS | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
5 | FRA1895 | MINI MAXI RC1 | LORINA 1895 | JEAN PIERRE BARJON | SWAN 601 | FRERS | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 17 |
6 | ITA17230 | MINI MAXI RC1 | OSCAR 3 | ALDO PARISOTTO | MYLIUS 65 | SIMEONE | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 22 |
7 | ITA16923 | MINI MAXI RC1 | DURLINDANA 3 | GIANCARLO GIANNI | FARR 60 | FARR | 6 | 7.5 | 8 | 8 | 29.5 |
8 | ITA204 | MINI MAXI RC1 | ATALANTA II | CARLO ALESSANDRO PURI NEGRI | FARR 70 | FARR / FELCI | 10 DNC |
7.5 | 7 | 7 | 31.5 |
9 | ITA77007 | MINI MAXI RC1 | YORU | LUIGI SALA | VISMARA MILLS 62 | VISMARA/MILLS | 8 | 9 | 10 DNF |
9 | 36 |
Mini Maxi RC 2 | |||||||||||
Pos | Sail nr. | Class | Yacht | Owner | Type | Designer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Points |
1 | ITA13973 | MINI MAXI RC2 | SHIRLAF | GIUSEPPE PUTTINI | SWAN 65 | SPARKMAN & STEVENS | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
2 | ITA15668 | MINI MAXI RC2 | H2O | RICCARDO DE MICHELE | VALLICELLI 80 | VALLICELLI | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
3 | AUT2895 | MINI MAXI RC2 | LUNZ AM MEER | DR. MARIETTA GRAFIN STRASOLDO | SWAN 651 | FRERS | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
4 | ESP9518 | MINI MAXI RC2 | PELOTARI.PROJECT | ANDRES VARELAS ENTRECANALES | X 65 | JEPPESEN | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 17 |
5 | SUI7618 | MINI MAXI RC2 | TAMINA | CARL GERRIT DEILMANN | CNB 76 | BRIAND | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 19 |
6 | MLT720 | MINI MAXI RC2 | FARR II KIND | PINTO LTD | FARR 72 | FARR | 6 | 7 DNF |
7 DNF |
6 | 26 |
Wally | ||||||||||||
Pos | Sail nr. | Class | Yacht | Owner | Type | Designer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Points |
1 | CAY1002 | WALLY | GALATEIA | SWITCHBACK MARINE | WALLYCENTO | REICHEL PUGH | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 8 |
2 | DD98 | WALLY | NAHITA | PANTHER MARINA LTD | WALLY 80 | FARR | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 10 |
3 | W774 | WALLY | LYRA | KIM LIMITED | WALLY 77 | WALLY YACHT | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
4 | FRA888 | WALLY | RYOKAN 2 | PHILIPPE LIGIER | WALLY 80 | FARR | 6 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 17 |
5 | GBR94R | WALLY | MAGIC BLUE | ANTONIO CACACE | WALLY 95 | FRERS | 1 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 18 |
6 | GBR7077 | WALLY | J ONE | JEAN-CHARLES DECAUX | WALLY 77 | FRERS | 12 DSQ |
7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 23 |
7 | GBR1001R | WALLY | MAGIC CARPET CUBED | SIR LINDSAY OWEN JONES | WALLYCENTO | REICHEL PUGH | 8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 24 |
8 | GBR94.3 | WALLY | SENSEI | AGAPE INVESTIMENTI LTD | WALLY 94 | FRERS | 7 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 24 |
9 | GBR8211N | WALLY | OPEN SEASON | THOMAS BESCHER | WALLY 107 | VROLIJK | 9 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 27 |
10 | GER6060 | WALLY | Y3K | CLAUS PETER OFFEN | WALLY 100 | FRERS | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 29 |
11 | W80.1 | WALLY | TILAKKHANA | ALHOEN LP | WALLY 80 | FARR / BRENTA | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 38 |
Maxi 72 | |||||||||||
Pos | Sail nr. | Class | Yacht | Owner | Designer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Points |
1 | IVB72 | MAXI 72 | MOMO | MOMO RACING LTD | VROLIJK | 3.75 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.75 | 10.5 |
2 | ITA42200 | MAXI 72 | CANNONBALL | DARIO FERRARI | BOTIN | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1.25 | 13.25 |
3 | USA45 | MAXI 72 | BELLA MENTE | FAUTH HAP | VROLIJK | 1.25 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 17.25 |
4 | USA60722 | MAXI 72 | PROTEUS | GEORGE SAKELLERIS | VROLIJK | 2.5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6.25 | 17.75 |
5 | GBR8728R | MAXI 72 | CAOL ILA R | OCEAN RACING | MILLS | 6.25 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2.5 | 23.75 |
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Published on September 7th, 2017
Porto Cervo, Italy (September 7, 2017) – A single windward-leeward race for the Maxi 72s and Wallys was held on what for all the other classes was a layday at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Two races were scheduled to make up for those lost earlier in the week, but, after the first was completed, the wind suddenly piped up to 28 knots causing PRO Peter Craig to suspend racing for the day.
Today’s one race was a trailblazer, showing off the strong wind and blazing sunshine for which the Costa Smeralda is famous.
Following her victory in yesterday’s second race, the new Wallycento Galateia blasted around the race track once again claiming both line honours and the win under IRC corrected time. She now leads the Wally class, 8 points ahead of the Wally 80 Nahita, with the Wally 77 Lyra a further point behind.
“It is surprising to us!” said David M. Leuschen, Galateia’s owner. “The boat is new. We raced half the season last year when the crew was new. We have improved because the crew co-ordination is better. We did a lot of work on the boat over the winter and we bought a new suit of North Sails, which we like a lot more.”
They have also been luckier. Last year, in their first outing at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Leuschen remembers they suffered a collision and a spinnaker forestay wrap. “We haven’t had anything like that happen this time, but we are probably due for it…”
Today’s race Leuschen said was “phenomenal”. They sailed the final downwind particularly well to add distance on the water between them and the Wally 107 Open Season of International Maxi Association President, Thomas Bscher. “We saw 23 knots a couple of times and over 20 pretty consistently.”
Second today, moving her up to third behind Nikata overall in the Wally class, was the Wally 77, Lyra. Navigator Will Best said of their race: “We have a good J3, so the boat is well balanced and we are quite confident upwind. But we are really quick downwind.” On the final downwind Lyra achieved a new top speed of 16 knots. “It was good fun. At start time the wind was 14 knots and we were nervous we were under the wrong jib. But when we finished we had 24-25.”
International Maxi Association member, Dieter Schön on Momo made it three wins in a row. The German team now leads the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship by 4.75 points.
For the 72s, the wind was typically 17-22 knots from 270-290°. “It was much more complicated than yesterday,” advised Momo’s tactician Markus Wieser. “Out of the start suddenly there was less pressure on the left and the right began paying half way up, so the boat on the windward side could hold the whole fleet out.”
Momo pulled into the lead on the first downwind, but was rolled coming into the leeward gate by Dario Ferrari’s new Cannonball. Both boats rounded the port gate mark but Momo tacked and had pulled out a significant lead at the second top mark.
Weiser believed it was the right call to cancel today’s second race. “We had puffs of up to 28 knots – it was on the edge. It would have been fun, if you’d have survived!”
A boat to benefit from the usually unfavoured right today was Alex Schaerer’s Caol Ila R. This being her first Maxi 72 inshore event of 2017, the Swiss boat has been lagging at this year’s Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship. The crew was therefore delighted to lead at the top mark.
“It shows that if you sail well the boat is still competitive against the new ones even in strong winds, when we are more optimised for lighter wind,” said Schaerer. Sadly this was not to last. Their A2 the spinnaker promptly blew up upon hoisting.
They were not alone in blowing up sails. Hap Fauth’s normally immaculate Maxi 72 Bella Mente ripped the top off her J3 four minutes into the first beat. Her crew carried out the speediest of jib changes, bareheaded. Despite this incident, they pulled up the fleet and at one point were up to second. “Everyone on the boat did a phenomenal job after the jib breakage to get us back into the race,” observed strategist Adrian Stead.
The Wallys also had their share of damage with the Wally 94 Sensei blowing up her kite as the wind filled in on the final run into the finish.
Tomorrow will be the penultimate day of racing at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Mistral wind is forecast to abate to 7-12 knots.
Held for the world’s largest racing yachts, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is jointly organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, this year celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the International Maxi Association, the body sanctioned by World Sailing to represent the Maxi classes.
Racing at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship takes place from September 4th to the 9th. Fifty yachts are currently entered.
Class details – Event details – Results
Source: James Boyd / www.sailingintelligence.com
Monday, September 4th, 2017: Day 1 of Maxi72 World Champions. Bella Mente was victorious in race #1 today on the coastal course. Tomorrow is another day in the Maxi72 Worlds! Bella Mente is off to a great start with Hap at the helm!
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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