Final day at 2007 China Cup Regatta

by Rob Kothe on 21 Oct 2007
The final battle in the Grand Prix fleet for the 2007 China Cup International Regatta resumed Sunday on Daya Bay, Shenzhen China. In the Grand Prix IRC class, Ray Robert’s Quantum Racing turned over the mighty 23 metre Jelik to win the inaugural China Cup Regatta. While in the Beneteau 40.7 fleet Japan also pulled of a final race victory to snatch the overall crown from Brazil and New Zealand.

In the first race, which was a windward leeward, Frank Pong the veteran Hong Kong sailor drove his 23 metre Jelik down the line at speed. Right on the gun he crossed the line at the pin with speed and headed to the left hand side of the course. On his hip was Ray Robert’s Quantum Racing. Yesterday the Quantum tactician Stephen McConaghy had found the best shifts on the left hand side of the course and it was clear that he was again looking for those shifts.

Above him Sam Chan’s TP52 FreeFire headed left, followed by Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth on Fortis Mandrake, with Shenzhen local Adam Ng’s Microlab Moonlight Shadow in hot pursuit. Qiu Jian Min’s Humming Bird started on port and disappeared to the right.

Within minutes Jelik tacked on a shift and crossed the fleet, she too headed for the right hand corner. However this proved to be a major tactical error for Jelik. There was a massive wind shift of more than sixty degrees which delivered the leg to the left side of the fleet.

FreeFire and Microlab reached the top of the course just 30 seconds apart. Jelik came in from the right well behind these boats. As Fortis Mandrake turned, Jelik swung wide outside her. Quantum was close behind coming in from the left, and clearly very close on handicap.

Jelik needed to lift her game. Down the run and up the beat the Hong Kong giant tried to climb away from the smaller boats, but she was stuck like glue in the China Sea. As Pong sailed to the left and the right looking for better breeze, the TP52 FreeFire crossed the 76 foot Jelik again, the perfect picture from Sam Chan’s office wall.

Behind them Quantum was closing, while Microlab was sailing in the middle of the course.

There were grim faces on Jelik as FreeFire gybed inside the much larger boat to steal the line honours victory, by a boat length. Behind them, less than sixty metres back was Mandrake. Microlab followed, chased by the fast finishing Quantum Racing.

Leaning over the stern rail at the finish, Ray Roberts said ‘The wind was very shifty but Steve (McConaghy) made all the right calls. We made big gains on the second beat and the last run and I am pretty sure he has won us the series.’

While the first place appeared to be decided; there was still a battle for the other podium placings which would be decided in the final race on Sunday afternoon.

There was an epic battle amongst the multinational fleet in the One Design fleet race. Mamoru Nagata’s Team Japan and Marcos Soares’ Brazilian team and Mike Calkoen’s New Zealand team were the overnight series top three and these boats were parading in that order at the top mark and down the first run.

It could have been a defining moment in the hard fought series when Brazil, being pressured by a fast running New Zealand, held their spinnaker too long, rounded the bottom mark with it ballooning like a giant drag chute and stopped dead in the water.

New Zealand pounced and rounded inside them then headed up the course after Japan.

Sensing blood the Kiwis pushed hard but they missed a major wind shift, and by the top mark they were buried back in the fleet. The Brazilians were back in second place and still in the hunt but down the final leg the Japanese team sailed away to take the race.

Now there was a tense situation the series was tied up - two wins and two seconds for both the Japanese and the Brazilian teams.

The last race of the series for all divisions was the passage race, with competitors sailing out into Daya Bay and round the six island Dalajia group. The wind started at eight knots but went soft mid-race, building again to 11-12 knots as the fleets came home.

In the Grand Prix fleet start, FreeFire was the pin boat. Jelik headed down the line, Quantum slid down the line with Microlab midline and above her. Fortis Mandrake was the first to tack.

A major drama at the start of the Division B fleet as the Dubai Team was pinned above the committee boat, as the rest of the fleet dialled up. It was the best start of the series for the Danish all women’s team just above the Brazilians.

The Japanese team was over early and went back to complete their penalty, they looked like they were doomed to lose many places. At the back of the fleet they decided to tack to the right and try their luck out there. They found a significant shift on what was definitely, the favoured side of the course.

Out on the left the Brazilians were locked in traffic and could not get to the right hand side, so they watched the Japanese and French teams sail away. Wind speeds varied as the One Design fleet rounded the Six Islands but it was Team Japan who claimed victory in this final race and as a result, won the series.

Andy Pilcher (AP) drove the Japanese boat with Kevin Peet on mainsheet. Both have sailed out of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron; Kevin was the Youth Program coach, while Pilcher is with Doyle NZL.

Picher commented; ‘A cracking day for us…we had bad starts in both races, but we had good boat speed, the crew work was excellent, we’ve sailed as a team together for eight years. We had to beat the Brazilians in the last race. We were over early, had to go back, then had little choice but to go right and it worked.’

Brazilian skipper Marcos Soares commented, ‘We are disappointed about the final race. We were just locked out. However that is sailing. We are really happy to be here, we have wives and families enjoying a wonderful time her in Shenzhen. We are looking forward to carrying the flag for Brazil here again next year.’

Confirmed as the Grand Prix (IRC) winner Ray Roberts was smiling dockside. ‘We will be back next year. The on-water management, provided by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club was excellent. We had the top boats in Asia here; the top boats here are as good as any in the world, the facilities are great and the entertainment superb.’

China Cup - Final leading results

IRC A
1. Quantum Racing
2. Jelik
3. Fortis Mandrake

IRC B (Beneteau 40.7 One Design)
1. Japan
2. Brazil
3. New Zealand

HKPN
1. Xanadu 2
2. Tara
3. Lady Luck

CCPN
1. Longtze Premier
2. Tornado
3. China 7


Tonight's prize giving dinner and entertainment, will be held at the Sheraton Dameisha Resort, and is certain to be a spectacular event if today's preparations and dress rehearsal is anything to go by.

A large stage, complete with elaborate lighting, has been erected poolside to host the entertainment, which will include speeches, dancing, fashion and music presentations.

Also poolside, staff from the Sheraton Dameisha Resort has been busy preparing the final buffet dinner of this first China Cup International Regatta. Throughout the event, the Sheraton Dameisha Resort has hosted a party for guests, visitors, sailors and media alike. This hospitality will leave a lasting impression on those who attended this inaugural event.

During the regatta, hundreds of Shenzhen University students who are studying English have acted as volunteer guides and interpreters for the sailors and the international media. Tonight, they return to their homes in preparation for college classes tomorrow. Their help has been appreciated by everyone attending the regatta.