Nylöf takes Frostad - Nokia Oops Cup

by Event media on 15 Jun 2006 Not even a shorter daggerboard could stop Knut Frostad and his crew on the trimaran Nokia Academy to claim the victory in Gothenburg’s Fleet Race, the fourth competition in Nokia Oops Cup.

'This was the crew’s victory, they worked so hard, both repairing the daggerboard all night and with trimming the sails today,' said Knut Frostad.

In hard wind, 20-24 knots, Nokia Academy won three heats out of four in Nokia Oops Cup Fleet Race, a course race sailed outside Gothenburg’s harbour. All night before, some crew members had repaired and constructed a usable daggerboard out of the one that broke in the Offshore Race from Norway. It became 1,5 meter shorter, but it worked.

'We could not go as high as we wanted, but it worked out anyway,' said Knut. 'Everyone was tired and we tried to save our energy before the race. Ten minutes before we said, “Now, let’s show them…”'

But it was Klas Nylöf and HiQ who went off in a smashing start in the race and won the first heat, just a couple of boat lengths before Nokia Academy, and another two before TietoEnator Audi.

In the second race, Nokia Academy started from leeward with high speed and two pontoons in the air. Thomas Johanson, Finland, and his TietoEnator Audi hardly moved in the start, while HiQ speeded behind the leader boat. At the finish Nokia Academy could claim a secure victory.

The Finnish team soon got their revenge and had what looked like a safe lead, but nothing is safe in sail racing. Nokia Academy's manoeuvres went smooth all the time and the sails were rolled in and out in record speed. Therefore TietoEnator Audi was passed by the Norwegians on the last leg before the finish, who claimed their second victory of the day.

'It was exciting, but we had problems with getting the gennaker in and then Knut passed by us,' said Thomas Johanson.

It was going to be three victories for Nokia Academy. The fourth and last became the most exciting one, where all three boats sailed closely together for one lap, sometimes on a line, sometimes beside each other at the marks. But on the second lap TietoEnator Audi suddenly lost ground, due to a problem with the mast and the sail.

HiQ was in the lead when the fleet was halfway and the gennakers went up. But suddenly HiQ lost meter by meter to Nokia Academy who overtook HiQ one meter before the finish line.

'We were tired physically and didn’t succeed to get the sails in fast enough,' said Klabbe. 'Knut Frostad's crew did a magnificent job on the winches and cut the finish line first.'

Klas Nylöf keeps the lead in Nokia Oops Cup with 10 points, before Knut Frostad, 9 points and Thomas Johanson, 5. The Speed Duel tonight can not change the results.

Results Fleet Race Gothenburg 13/6 och standings Nokia Oops Cup
1. Klas Nylöf, HiQ, 1-3-3-2 (10 p)
2. Knut Frostad, Nokia Academy, 2-1-1-1 (9 p)
3. Thomas Johansson, TietoEnator Audi, 3-2-2-3 (5 p)

For more info and latest results visit www.nokiaoopscup.com