International Universty Sailing Cup - Egor Terpigorev victorious

by Robert Deaves on 5 Jun 2013 The first International University Sailing Cup, hosted by Moscow, was held under endorsement of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) prior to the World University Summer Games - Universiade 'Kazan 2013' – from May 28 to June 2. The event was organised by Russian Finn Association and Russian Sports Students Union.

Sixteen sailors (including two women) from seven nations (Great Britain, France, Italy, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Russia) were fighting for the first International Cup in students sport in the Finn class.

Also the Race Committee was headed by experienced PRO Pierluidgi De Luise (ITA), and the jury was international: with representatives from Italy, Greece, Romania and Russia; Thanks to their competence, but also to their friendly attitude, the regatta was a great sailing event.

The regatta started with light winds so the race committee only managed to carry out only two races on the first day. Peter McCoy (GBR), a British student from Plymouth University, England, won the first race, while the second race was won by Egor Terpigorev (RUS) from the Moscow sailing school Khlevnikovo.

After the first race Peter McCoy commented, 'Today was a difficult start to the regatta. We had two light and shifty races. The first race was good for me. I managed to stay in phase with the shifts upwind and had good speed downwind. This enabled me to win the first race. The second race was again shifty and difficult. Unfortunately, I sailed into a wind hole on the last downwind and lost a few places. But overall I'm happy with the first day, and tomorrow is another day. All the competitors are very competitive and welcoming. It's a good first experience in Moscow.'

Two next days passed without any races taking place. Making the most of the time, the head of the International Jury Piero Occhetto (ITA) carried out mini Rule 42 seminar for the sailors.

On June, first the wind came back to Moscow and allowed to hold another two races. Actually there were three races, but the last one was abandoned due to very shifty conditions.

Victor Fillipov (RUS) won both races that day and took the lead of the regatta, followed by Egor Terpigorev (RUS), the previous regatta, and Ilya Ignatiev (KGZ).

On the last day, it was planned to carry out one medal race and one final race in the front of the Moscow Sailing School. But the good wind conditions of that day and strong desire of all sailors to continue the battle on the water moved organisers to keep the racing area at the same place as before and to carry out another two fleet races before the medal race.

The Principal Race Officer of the regatta Pierluidgi De Luise commented, 'The last day of the races has wiped out the impression of Moscow as of the lake without wind. Moscow can really have good winds and we are able to make the good races.'

The first race of the last day was won by Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) with Terpigorev in second. The second race of that day went to Terpigorev. He approached on the leader, Filippov, both on equal points before the medal race, while Kistanov was in third with Ignatiev and Konstantin Lashuk (BLR) very close behind.

The medal race decided the final order of the leaders. Terpigorev managed to win the duel with Filippov, while Kistanov saved his third place, although it was done with zero margin right to the end.

Final results (top six)

1 RUS 57 Egor Terpigorev 11
2 RUS 5 Viktor Filippov 12
3 RUS 6 Arkadiy Kistanov 24
4 KGZ 5 Ilia Ignatev 24
5 BLR 18 Konstantin Lashuk 25
6 GBR 29 Peter McCoy Click here for full results

The prize-giving ceremony was held in very warm and friendly atmosphere - each participant received a diploma of the regatta. The Russian Finn Association prepared special gifts for foreign guests (sailors and judges) - unique copies of the Finn boat, which were made in Gzhel style (the famous Russian national handicraft).

The famous Russian Finn sailors Oleg Khoperskiy and Victor Potapov awarded top three young sailors. It was more pleasant for Khoperskiy since all three top sailors were coached by him during last year.

The guest of the regatta – the executiive director of the Russian Students Sport Union Oleg Khramtsov spoke of the high level of the regatta. He said, 'We see growing interest to the students sailing sport and good organisation skills of the Russian Finn Association as well as the perfect venue of the Moscow Sailing School for the events of such level. It is very important to continue carrying out this regatta annually and to make it traditional.'

The president of Russian Finn Association Vasiliy Kravchenko commented, 'There is an idea to hold the International University Sailing Cup (Finn) annually at the end of August, since that time is always windy in Moscow as well as that time is more convenient for students.'

'We congratulate all students and Finn sailors with one more good international event as well as first international event for students in Finn class and hope to see you in Moscow again at Open Russian (September, 02-09).