Alfa Romeo and Southern Star continue domination

by YCCS on 25 Jun 2008
After day two, the top of the leaderboard remains unchanged for the 23 sailing superyachts competing in the Boat International Superyacht Regatta in Porto Cervo.

Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo dominates the Performance Division while Claudio de Eccher’s Southern Star heads up the Cruising Division. Organizers from the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda set separate courses, sending the two divisions through the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago, and once again the sight proved breathtaking as these sail-powered titans charged through the straits and channels off Sardinia’s northeastern coast in close proximity to one another.

The Performance Division started at 12 midday in approximately 14 knots of wind at 110° and followed a 35 nautical mile course which led them north to round the Monaci islands before turning south and rounding the tip of Caprera Island. The five performance racers next sailed up along the coast and past the islands of La Maddalena and Buddelli, then embarked on a long mainly upwind leg to the finish just off Porto Cervo. The clear leader from the outset was once again Alfa Romeo, which was followed around the course by Senso One, helmed by Philippe Ligot, and Claus Peter Offen’s Y3K. Just over ten minutes separated the first- and second-place boats across the finish line.

Crichton was rightly pleased with his boat’s performance: 'It was beautiful sailing again today and very enjoyable. It was closer today between Senso One and ourselves. I think they ran into a few problems, otherwise they would have been a lot closer. We’re used to a little more breeze when we compete here in the Maxis in September, but Alfa Romeo competes well in light conditions as well.'

Alfa Romeo once again retained her lead on corrected time ahead of Y3K and Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling X, and these three boats lead the overall classification in the same order.

Crichton is looking forward to Thursday’s final day of racing with confidence. 'I think we’re going to have lighter winds on Thursday,' he said, 'but if we get a good start and some air we should do well. I think today’s course and conditions favoured Senso more than us. There was a lot of reaching. So if they were ever going to beat us it should have been today.'

The 16 superyachts of the Cruising Division sailed a 24 nautical mile course with the same first northward leg to round the Monaci before heading back past the port of Porto Cervo and onwards to round the island of Mortoriotto and doubling back on themselves to reach the finish line. Charles Dunstone’s Hamilton II was fastest around the course in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 33 seconds, followed by Salperton with designer Ed Dubois on board. Victory on corrected time, however, went to Southern Star for the second consecutive day ahead of Hamilton II and Acaia Cube, helmed by Marco Pecorella. Once again these three boats hold the same positions in the overall classification.

Tomorrow is a lay day and the results of Thursday’s race will be conclusive. Tonight, however, owners and crews will be relaxing at the Boat International beach party at the exclusive Romazzino hotel.

The forecast for Thursday predicts light easterly winds of approximately six to eight knots.

Top three Provisional Results 24/06/08

Place) Boat, Owner – Points, Total
Performance Division
1) Alfa Romeo, Neville Crichton – 1.00 1.00 , 2.00
2) Y3K, Claus Peter Offen 2.00 2.00, 4.00
3) Magic Carpet 2, Lindsay Owen Jones 4.00 3.00, 7.00
Place) Boat, Owner

Cruising Division
1) Southern Star , Claudio de Eccher, 1.00 1.00 , 2.00
2) Acaia Cube, Pegaso Srl, 3.00 2.00 , 5.00
3) Hamilton ll, Lockstock Ltd 2.00 3.00 , 5.00

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