Age and Beauty at Rolex Veteran Boat Rally

by KPMS on 16 Sep 2007 The final day of the Rolex Veteran Boat Rally started in a less than promising manner, just as yesterday. No wind. By the end of the race, and day, the crews were in a celebratory mood having enjoyed a short, but highly competitive race.

Overall winners of the series were Mariette in the Vintage Gaff Division, Marjatta in the Vintage Bermudian Division and Emeraude in the Classic Division.

Once again the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Race Committee, faced with light airs, were required to use their wit and experience to set a appropriate course for the heavyweight veterans. Having posted a new course last night it was odds on that it would be chosen, and so it came to pass that the fleet undertook a pleasant stroll over an 8 nautical mile course. Starting with a 3-mile fetch from the start to a turning mark, the yachts turned back on a reciprocal course to a mark in Golfo Pevero before a short downwind run to the finish off Porto Cervo.

Sailed in what amounted, for much of the race, to little more than a whisper some of the yachts demonstrated a surprising turn of speed. The key on the first leg was to get up to speed, trim to course and try not to do anything foolish. The 1907 Luke designed Gaff Yawl, Véronique, owned and helmed by Hans Albrecht did just that, hitting over 6 knots when the wind crawled up to 10 knots. Véronique delighted her crew by following up an excellent start by finishing third on the water, behind the bigger and more powerful Mariette, and, the bigger and younger Bermudian Yawl Mariella. Marjatta, the beautiful blue yawl of Giovanni Broggi, appeared to have done just the opposite to Véronique.

A port/starboard incident on the start line with Mariella looked to have ended her race prematurely. Recognising their error, Marjatta executed a 360-degree turn that in the feeble wind should have put paid to her chances of doing well. Testament to the crew's powers of recovery, the striking gentian blue hulled Marjatta got back up to speed and did enough to correct out one and half-minutes ahead of Mariella to win her Division by one-point.

Finishing in third place on handicap in Vintage Bermudian was Skagerrak, owned by Raffaele Ranucci. Like so many of the others here for the Rolex Veteran Boat Rally, Skagerrak has a complicated and interesting story. She was designed and built in 1939 by George Abeking and Henry Rasmussen at the famous yard in Lemwerder for Admiral Erich Raeder, by order of the German Navy. Like many of the yachts here she is also a handful to manage. According to helmsman Paolo Tornelli, 'she's a very fast boat, more than one could imagine due to her 80 tonne displacement. The manoeuvres are pretty hard as everything is manually done on board and she requires for a big team. The mainsail works with two small manual winches and it needs four people to hoist it. A minimum of 12-13 people is required on board.'

In the Classic Division for yachts built between 1950 and 1975, Stormvogel held pole position going into the final day's race. Shortly before the yachts left the dock, skipper Graeme Henry quipped that he hoped no race would be possible. Light winds do not suit Stormvogel, which is built to rove the ocean. Henry's worst fears were realized as racing got underway. Third to finish on the water, Ermanno Traverso saw his yacht slip into fourth place as Emeraude, and both Corsaro II and Stella Polare racing under the colours of the Italian Navy came in ahead of her on handicap.

After a fifth place in the strong winds of yesterday, Vittorio Cavazzana the owner of Emeraude was understandably thrilled to win not only on the water, but also on handicap. And, with other results going for her in the standings, Emeraude came out on top overall in the Division, winning on countback from Stella Polare. Cavazzana is the third owner. Emeraude was built for the legendary French sailor Jacques Dewailly and competed at the 1975 Admiral's Cup for France, where she finished second on the water in the Fastnet Race.

When Cavazzano first saw the yacht in the mid-90s, she was in a shipyard, sandwiched between two other boats. It was not until after he had paid for her and put her in the water that he realized how she looked, 'I bought her for several reasons, the name being one. Frankly, though I fell in love with the deck design and the internal layout was unusual. And, then also the name of German Frers as designer and the best shipyard in the world, Royal Huismann, as builder.'

Cavazzano is a recent convert to the Classic circuit. He enjoys the camaraderie of the competing crews on the water and at the dock, 'the crew is all amateurs. They come from all regions from Italy and, although 4 or 5 are always the same I can rotate from about 30 different people. We have a core of very good sailors onboard. This is the same of many of the boats, with the owners all on the helm. The competitiveness on the water is great and the atmosphere ashore is very relaxed.' And like all the owners here he is quietly proud of his yacht, describing her as a Spartan, thoroughbred, but insisting he would not want it any other way, 'we do not even have hot water on the boat,' he added.

Cavazzano had really enjoyed the series, ' the racing here is great, on the first day we did fantastically well finishing first on handicap after being well behind. The boat beats (to windward) very well and it was exhilarating to overtake everybody. The second race was tougher for us because our average age is a little bit high. So with the strong winds, physically we were unable to respond strongly enough (Emeraude finished 5th). Today we had a reasonably relaxed race because we thought the boat in second behind us was Stella Polare, so we thought we could not win. Then we discovered it was Corsaro, which is her twin. They look the same! So we were doubly happy at the finish.'

Vintage Gaff Division was won by Mariette, which had another good race. Skipper Charlie Wroe said the crew had thoroughly enjoyed the racing here and complimented the YCCS Race Officers on doing an excellent job to set appropriate and interesting courses. 'Today was a good course for Mariette. She goes unusually well in the light stuff and has plenty of sail area, and some good sails for the conditions,' he commented. As for the overall result, naturally he was delighted, 'its been really, really good. I love racing in Sardinia. It is a brilliant, brilliant place to sail - its just beautiful.' Just like the yachts that have graced the waters over the past five days.

After the race was completed, as tradition demands, the fleet paraded past the saluting vessel that for this year was the magnificent Croce del Sud, carrying Princess Zahra Aga Khan (President of the Board of Directors of the YCCS), Commandante Gianfranco Alberini (Commodore of the YCCS); Gian Riccardo Marini of Rolex Italy and wife; La Contessa Robinia Granelli Mentasti (of the owning family of Croce del Sud), Commandante Edoardo Recchi (Secretary General of YCCS) and Gianni Zoffredo (President of AIVE) and other guests.

At the prizegiving held in the Piazza Azzurra this evening, the three Division winners received their trophies and Rolex Yacht-master timepieces in Rolesor as just reward for their success.

The Rolex Veteran Boat Rally 2007 was organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and ran from September 11th to September 15th. 12 Metre racing took place from 11th-13th inclusive and Veteran boat racing from the 13th-15th inclusive.

For more information about the Rolex Veteran Boat Rally 2007 including entry lists and results please visit www.rolexveteranboatrally.com

www.regattanews.com

FINAL STANDINGS
Place Boat Name, Owner/Charterer R1-R2-R3-Points

Classic Yacht
1. EMERAUDE, Vittorio Cavazzana, 1-5-1-7.00
2. STELLA POLARE, Marivela, 2-2-3-7.00
3. STORMVOGEL, Ermanno Traverso, 3-1-4-8.00

Vintage Bermudian Yacht<