Fitzpatrick takes early lead at MS Amlin Moth Regatta
by RBYC on 6 Dec 2016
Ben Paton (sail no. 5) and Dylan Fletcher-Scott (4480) hike hard sailing upwind in a rare puff on Great Sound. Beau Outteridge/Amlin International Moth Regatta
Irishman Rory Fitzpatrick holds the early lead at the second annual MS Amlin International Moth Regatta, hosted by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
Fitzpatrick finished first and second in today’s two races and leads second-placed Rob Greenhalgh of Great Britain by one point. Italy’s Stefano Rizzi is third with nine points after placing fourth and fifth.
“It was marginal conditions today for foiling, but it went well,” said Fitzpatrick, who placed 12th last year. “The wind was so patchy that it really paid to stay in the puffs because you could stay on your foils.”
Greenhalgh, last year’s winner, had similar thoughts. “I could’ve won the first race, was leading in it, but then fell off the foils,” said the Briton. “The conditions were really patchy.”
For the sailors who had an option on equipment, the large foils were the choice because of the light winds, four to eight knots from the north/northwest. After a weekend of howling conditions that forced the postponement of yesterday’s scheduled first day, the lighter winds were welcomed by some.
“I sat around all weekend playing with my boat because it was too windy,” said Giovanni Galeotti of Belgium, who holds 19th after finishing 21-22. “It seemed like there were a lot of random puffs on both sides of the racecourse. I’m using intermediate foils because my large foils are being used for something else, but I still had somewhat of an edge. If I’d practiced more I might’ve been able to hang in there and do better.”
James Doughty is the top Bermudian after the first day. He finished 19-28 and holds 20th overall, 4 points behind Galeotti. “I’ve only been sailing the boat for a year now but was mostly pleased with today,” said Doughty, who’s one of the lightest sailors in the fleet. “I got off the start line well but had trouble staying on the foils in the patchy winds.”
For Doughty, the regatta is about learning the intricacies of the Moth ahead of the World Championship, which will be held in Bermuda in May 2018. “The Worlds is the candy at the end of the stick for sailors like me and Christian Luthi and Ben Paton. We’re all looking forward to it,” said Doughty. “We don’t have a big fleet here so a regatta like this is good for us to improve our skill. If I can improve my boat handling in windy conditions, then this will be a good regatta for me.”
Among the two women in the fleet, Josie Gliddon of England is 22nd with 51 points and Annalise Murphy of Ireland is 30th with 61 points. Gliddon has sailed the Moth for only one year but liked the light conditions because she’s easily the lightest sailor in the fleet. Murphy, who won the Silver Medal in the Laser Radial at the Rio Olympics and has sailed the Moth on and off for three years, is at the other end of the spectrum from Gliddon, tall and strong. But she wasn’t thrilled with the marginal foiling conditions.
“I don’t like it when I have to work hard to get on the foils,” said Murphy. “I sail the Laser to stay on the hull.”
MS Amlin is a leading insurer and reinsurer, part of the global top-10 insurance group MS&AD, with operations in the Lloyd’s, UK, Continental European and Bermudian markets. With a 300-year record and more than 2,000 people in 26 locations worldwide, we deliver continuity for businesses facing the most complex and demanding risks. Our role places us at the forefront of the Property and Casualty, Marine and Aviation and Reinsurance markets. Additional sponsors include the Bermuda Tourism Authority, Gosling’s, the Official Rum of the Regatta, and Kaenon Polarized.
MS Amlin International Moth Regatta Provisional Standings
1. Rory Fitzpatrick (IRL) 1-2 – 3 points
2. Rob Greenhalgh (GBR) 3-1 – 4
3. Stefano Rizzi (ITA) 4-5 – 9
4. Dylan Fletcher-Scott (GBR) 7-4 – 11
5. James McMillan (GBR) 6-7 – 13
6. Jonathan Heathcote (GBR) 5-11 – 16
7. Simon Hiscocks (GBR) 9-9 – 18
8. David Hivey (GBR) 13-6 – 19
9. John Clifton (GBR) 12-8 – 20
10. Dan Ward (GBR) 8-13 – 21
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