Armin Strom finishes third in GC32 Racing Tour after tough final event
by Quinag on 17 Oct 2016
Armin Strom Sailing Team - GC32 Racing Tour – Marseille One Design Sander van der Borch / Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour
The goal of concluding the 2016 GC32 Racing Tour on the podium was reached this week for Armin Strom Sailing Team. Wrapping up a challenging event in Marseille, the Swiss-based team held onto third place in the season-long standings, ending the tour on a well-deserved high.
Skipper Flavio Marazzi says the overall result is a great one, reflecting a year of developing as a team. “We started the season with a young team and we gained a lot of experience and confidence during the series – it really shows how far we’ve come” he adds.
The Marseille One Design regatta provided a tough, final test with some races likened to a ‘game of snakes and ladders’ as positions rapidly changed due to incredibly shifty conditions. The final day provided the best weather, enabling the race organisers to complete five races. Armin Strom ended the week in seventh place, tied on points with Malizia and six points clear of team Gunvor Sailing.
Team manager and coach Sharon Ferris-Choat expanded on the tricky conditions: “Our team definitely got ding donged around the course a bit, especially during the second day in the light and very shifty airs which made calling tactics very hard. The calibre of the fleet is incredibly high, and although all the races didn’t go our way it was still good to secure a few places near the top.”
Unpredictable conditions were put down to the time of year, with the transition from summer to autumn delivering anything from gale force winds to marginal foiling breeze. The cooler temperatures prompted team members to don thicker wetsuits and rug up for the racing. “We’re all wearing beanies again – it’s quite a contrast from the previous few events!” says Ferris-Choat.
There was plenty going on off the water too, with meetings taking place to discuss the future of the Tour and the GC32 class. As well as being re-elected for another two years as the GC32 Class President, Armin Strom skipper Flavio Marazzi was delighted with the revision of rules which govern the make up of crews. These changes will now provide more opportunities for women, youth and lighter male sailors to compete on the Tour.
“The change in rules mean that GC32 crews will have either five male crew or six crew if at least two are female. It opens up the playing field for many more sailors, and will hopefully encourage more teams into the class,” Marazzi explains.
The team will see out season with a GC32 match race event in Monaco, and the GC32 Class Championship in Oman at the end of February.
As the 2016 GC32 Tour concludes, ARMIN STROM Sailing team would like to heartily thank their sponsors: Armin Strom, Marinepool, Forward Sailing, ProTect Tapes and Kaenon for their continued support, as well as all of their supporters, competitors, and race officials.
Marseille One Design results:
Rank: Team: Total:
1 NORAUTO 13
2 Argo 37
3 Mamma Aiuto! 41
4 Team Tilt 43
5 Team ENGIE 49
6 Malizia – Yacht Club de Monaco 52
7 ARMIN STROM Sailing Team 52
8 Gunvor Sailing 58
9 Realteam 68
10 Orange Racing 89
2016 GC32 Racing Tour Results:
Rank: Team: Total:
1 NORAUTO 6
2 Team Tilt 12
3 ARMIN STROM Sailing Team 22
4 Argo 26
5 Team ENGIE 29
6 Malizia – Yacht Club de Monaco 29
7 Gunvor Sailing 32
8 Mamma Aiuto! 33
9 Realteam 40
10 Spindrift Racing 47
11 Orange Racing 47
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