New World Champion Barking Mad takes the stage at Rolex Farr 40 Worlds

by YCCS media/Jan Harley on 28 Jun 2009
With three world champions sitting in the top four of the 25-strong fleet at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship 2009, the final day of racing for the championship crown had all the necessary elements for a spectacular finale.

All was set for a naval duel to the death between two time world champion (1998, 2004) Jim Richardson (Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I.) on Barking Mad and 2003 world champion Massimo Mezzaroma on his Nerone (ITA). Nerone defended her honor with a win of the first race of the day, but when all was said and done, Barking Mad, with 2008 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Terry Hutchinson (Annapolis, Md.) calling tactics, had gained her satisfaction comfortably defending the lead she had held since day one of the series and clinching the title for the third time. Nerone took second place with Giovanni Maspero’s Joe Fly in third. Vincenzo Onorato, the winner of the three most recent Rolex Farr 40 World Championships (2006, 2007, 2008), was fourth on Mascalzone Latino.

The Mistral wind, sunshine and blue skies which characterized the entire event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) from June 22-27, were present once again for the start of the day’s first race which started on schedule in approximately 18 knots of breeze. Nerone led the fleet and was followed around the first mark, where winds reached 22 knots, by Joe Fly and Flash Gordon, owned b, ty Helmut Jahn (Chicago, Ill.). A head-to-head battle ensued between Nerone and Joe Fly with Nerone prevailing to cross the finish line first, ahead of Joe Fly and Flash Gordon.

Heading into race ten, the final of the series, Barking Mad’s sixth place in race nine left her just one point ahead of Nerone. Tension was high as the fleet crossed the starting line in approximately 20 knots of wind with Barking Mad and Nerone starting from opposite ends of the line. The American’s of Barking Mad and Flash Gordon followed Alessandro Barnaba’s Fiamma (ITA), with tactician Tommaso Chieffi, around the first windward mark, but by the leeward gate Barking Mad had taken the lead with Mascalzone Latino hot on her heels, followed by Flash Gordon. Mascalzone gained the lead during the second windward leg and held it to the finish, crossing the line ahead of Barking Mad and Flash Gordon. The third-place finish earned Barking Mad a series total of 38 points to take the championship crown seven points ahead of Nerone. Joe Fly ended the series with 53 points for third place overall.

Richardson was delighted with the championship series which saw him average less than four points per race: 'We're very, very happy. Coming to Italy and winning this World Championship in Porto Cervo is an amazing feeling for us. There are so many good teams out there, particularly the Italians, and to be able to win in their home waters is a great thrill for us.'

'We could almost taste victory, so it’s disappointing not to win,' commented Vasco Vascotto, tactician on Nerone. 'We sailed well but the American’s were more constant. It has been a great season and we have gained experience, you never stop learning.'

Mascalzone’s Vincenzo Onorato, racing under the YCCS burgee, was philosophical about handing over the title he had carried for three consecutive years. 'It’s a great story for the class, we went to Jim’s hometown to win the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship in 2006 in Newport, Rhode Island, and Jim has come here to our home, in Porto Cervo to win the [2009] Worlds. The last race was the first in our campaign for the Farr 40 Worlds 2010 at Casa di Campo.'

Richardson was awarded the Farr 40 World Cup trophy and a specially engraved Rolex timepiece during the prize giving held at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

Along with Richardson and Hutchinson, the crew on Barking Mad includes Morgan Trubovich (Middletown, R.I.), James Baxter and Derby Anderson (both Annapolis), Zach Hurst (Auckland, NZL), Linda Lindquist-Bishop (Leeland, Mich.), Marty Kullman (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Matt McDonough (Jackson Hole, Wyo.) and Curtis Florence (Cleveland, Ohio).

www.farr40worldchampionship.com , www.yccs.it