Longtze Premier Asia Sailing Tour starts

by Ingmar Jense, Sailing Events Asia on 27 Nov 2008

Thierry Barot (centre) receives the trophy from Pier Luigi Loro Piana (left) and RHKYC Commodore Warwick Downes (right) Sailing Events Asia

Tour Principal and former America’s Cup sailor Thierry Barot took two victories in class as well as overall victories last weekend in the first leg of the Longtze Premier Asia Sailing Tour. With helmsman Jamie McWilliam, Barot took line honours for both the Lipton Cup on Saturday and the Loro Piana Around the Island Race, the biggest annual yacht race in Hong Kong.

The Asia Sailing Tour started on Saturday afternoon when the start gun went for the Longtze’s at 13.55pm. The team of Barot and McWilliam lead the race from start to finish with Verhegge and Jense taking second place. A mixed fleet of over 70 boats competed in Saturday’s race and the Longtze sportsboat won The Lipton Cup and the inaugural Asia Sailing Tour race.

On the second day of the Tour, Barot and McWilliam were challenged strongly all the way round the course by Alberto Signorini of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (Italy). After several hours of racing Barot and McWilliam crossed the line ahead of Signorini with Verhegge in third place.

Asia Sailing Tour boat sponsor Loro Piana introduced four teams to the Tour, two from prestigious Italian yacht clubs, one represented by Chief-Executive and champion yachtsman Pier Luigi Loro Piana, and the fourth with guests from Hong Kong. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was headed by Alberto Signorini, a world champion sailor with a crew made up of other world champions and America’s Cup sailors. Yacht Club Italiano of Genoa was headed by Nicolo Reggio, also a world champion and America’s Cup sailor with a crew of peers, two with Olympic campaigns behind them.

Sponsor of the Around the Island Race and the Asia Sailing Tour Loro Piana, and Italian luxury clothing company, is known for its high-end, luxury cashmere and wool products. As well as being deeply involved with yacht racing in Italy and around the world, they also sponsor Italian and international horsemen and are partnered with the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation.

The Asia Sailing Tour will now moves on to Langkawi (Malaysia) for the Royal Langkawi Regatta starting 04 January 2009 before going to the Singapore Straits later in the same month, and then the Maktoum Sailing Trophy in Dubai in February. The Tour finals will be held on the Han River in the heart of Seoul in April.

For more information about the Asia Sailing Tour or Sailing Events Asia please contact:

Ingmar Jense
Tel: +852 25176696
Mobile: +852 90407151
E-mail: Ingmar@sailingevents-asia.com
www.sailingevents-asia.com
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/51254

Related Articles

Sailing Grand Slam and Foiling Week join forces
The collaboration begins with co-branded initiatives around Foiling Week Malcesine Organisers of the Sailing Grand Slam and Foiling Week announce a strategic collaboration to grow the future of high-performance sailing, designed to strengthen connections across the rapidly evolving worlds of foiling sailing, windfoiling and kitefoiling.
Posted today at 6:18 am Santa Maria Cup Day 1
Racing in Stage 2 of 2026 Womens World Match Racing Tour underway The opening day of the Santa Maria Cup, Stage 2 of the 2026 Women's World Match Racing Tour, delivered a thrilling start on the waters of Annapolis as ten of the world's top women match racing teams battled for early supremacy.
Posted today at 5:42 am Nicolas Lunven, the winning comeback
Crowned champion in the 2026 La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec By finishing fourth in the final leg of the 57th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec between Pornichet and Le Havre, Nicolas Lunven (PRB) secured overall victory ahead of Alexis Thomas (Wings of the Ocean) and Paul Morvan (Foricher-French Touch).
Posted today at 4:48 am Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race Preview
Beginning on 18 June at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Beginning on 18 June at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, the inaugural Brisbane to Bundaberg Offshore Yacht Race will launch as the missing ingredient in the Queensland Offshore Ocean Sailing Championship.
Posted today at 4:43 am Cup Spy: Emirates Team NZ resume AC75 testing
America's Cup Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand resumed its AC75 test program in the Gulf. America's Cup Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, resumed its AC75 test program in the Hauraki Gulf today, June 4.
Posted today at 4:02 am La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 3 finish
Paul Morvan (Foricher – French Touch) crosses the finish line in Le Havre, Normandy Paul Morvan crossed the finish line in Le Havre, Normandy, as the winner on Thursday, June 4, at 1:17:57 a.m. (French time).
Posted today at 1:36 am SSL Gold Cup 2026 Africa & Oceania Qualifier Day 2
All Square Ahead of Golden Thursday With the threat of storms gone and the rain clearing a beautiful 10 to 13 knot from the South West, all was set on Lake Neuchâtel for a perfect day's sailing.
Posted on 3 Jun B&G joins Francesca Clapcich as official supplier
As a B&G Ambassador, Francesca will benefit from B&G's 70-year expertise B&G®, the world leader in sailing electronics, has joined Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing as an official supplier, supporting the Italian American skipper in her campaign to race in the 2028 Vendée Globe.
Posted on 3 Jun La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 3 update
English Channel is showing all its harshness to the competitors Today, the English Channel is showing all its harshness to the competitors of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.
Posted on 3 Jun Green light for FPT x Windy Days Podersdorf
Riders arriving early were welcomed by a run of all-time Podersdorf conditions FPT x Windy Days Podersdorf is officially under way starting today, and before competition has even begun, Lake Neusiedl has already delivered.
Posted on 3 Jun