Safety first at the GC32 Malcesine Cup after media RIB collision

by Sail-World.com on 10 Jul 2016 After two very successful opening days of competition on Lake Garda, no racing was held on the final day of the GC32 Malcesine Cup. Following the collision of Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco and a press RIB on Friday, the Fraglia Vela Malcesine and the GC32 International Class Association did not reach an agreement over the liability for the final day of racing.

A GC32 ran over the top of a near-stationary RIB containing photographers. to see a video of the incident click here

In the four years that the GC32 Racing Tour has existed, safety has always been of paramount importance. Steps the GC32 Racing Tour has taken this year include employing its own Safety Officer in Henrik Norberg - a former America’s Cup and multihull sailor, whose regular job for the last 25 years has also as a fireman and paramedic in his native Sweden. At the GC32 Malcesine Cup additional steps have been taken to increase the exclusion zone around the race area.

Christian Scherrer, GC32 Racing Tour Manager, said: “Fortunately there was no injury during Friday’s incident. We are continually taking steps to improve safety and have made considerable progress and will continue to do so this season.”

A safety group within the GC32 Class Association has been set up to improve safety procedures for future GC32 regattas. This group will include Norberg and some of the GC32’s most experienced and prominent sailors.

President of the Fraglia Vela Malcesine, Gianni Testa, commented: “As event organiser, the FVM fully shares and agrees in the decision of the class: Safety First! Foiling is a new game and it requires new safety procedures to guarantee the safety on the race course for everyone involved.”

Team Tilt victorious

The GC32 Malcesine Cup had a close conclusion with Switzerland’s Team Tilt finishing just one point ahead of the Franck Cammas-steered Norauto. These results are the opposite of those scored at May’s GC32 Riva Cup. With the two teams now tied on points at the top of the overall leaderboard, Team Tilt is nominally overall leader of the 2016 GC32 Racing Tour due to her winning the latest regatta.

Helmsman Arnaud Psarofaghis said: 'It is a great to win here in Malcesine and it is a good end for the boys at the end of the week we have done. We improved every race so it is good to have won here. It was pretty sad we didn’t complete any scoring races over the last two days. We wanted to fight more on the water so that is a shame, but it is life and we did the work at the right time.'

Jason Carroll's Argo won the owner-driver trophy at the GC32 Malcesine Cup to consolidate her position at the top of 2016 owner-driver results table.

The GC32 Racing Tour now moves on to the 35th Copa del Rey Mapfre, to be held over 3-6 August in Palma de Mallorca.

Looking ahead Psarofaghis said: 'I think everyone will improve. I think will have some more people in the fight for the podium and we will have to push harder and harder and not rest on our laurels. Take the win now but work harder for the next race.'