Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

12 Metre World Championship at Ida Lewis Yacht Club: Day 2 - Lead changes in three divisions

by Barby MacGowan 10 Jul 2019 20:10 PDT 8-13 July 2019

Last night at Gurney's Marina and Resort, 400 hundred sailors representing six countries joined sponsors and race organizers at the elegantly-staged Welcome Reception for the 12 Metre World Championship hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club and organized by the International Twelve Metre Association's (ITMA) Americas Fleet. Today, the same sailors took to the waters of Rhode Island Sound for their second day of racing in a five-day, nine race series that has the eyes of all the sailing world trained upon it.

A postponement on the water pushed a scheduled 11 a.m. start back to 1:15, but it was worth the wait when a barely-there breeze picked up to 8-12 knots. Each of five divisions sailed two races to add to their two-race score line from yesterday, and new leaders emerged in three divisions.

In Vintage Division, Nyala (US-12), the second of two Italian teams fielded by Luna Rossa Syndicate head Patrizio Bertelli (the other is Kookaburra II (KA-12) in Grand Prix Division), replaced Onawa (US-6) at the top of the scoreboard by posting two bullets in each of the twice-around windward/leeward races. Skippered by Mauro Pelaschier, Nyala won last weekend's 12 Metre Pre-Worlds.

In Modern Division, Challenge XII (KA-10), skippered by Jack LeFort of Jamestown, R.I., also won both races to finish ahead of yesterday's leader Courageous (US-26) in cumulative standings, while in Traditional Division Columbia (US-16), helmed by owner Kevin Hegarty of Newport, R.I. and skippered by Anthony Chiurco of Princeton, N.J. finished with a slim lead over American Eagle (US-21); only one point separates them going into tomorrow's racing.

"It's the closest racing we've had in a long time," said Hegarty. "In the first race we edged out American Eagle by only one boat length at the finish." Hegarty was project manager for a refit on Columbia in 2001, then served as captain of her for six years before he bought her because he loved her so much. "I consider myself not so much her owner as her caretaker," he said. "She'll be around a lot longer than me. I've been sailing in Newport a long time and I've never seen anything like what was out there today; I wish I was on a spectator boat to see the beauty of these boats all together."

Legacy (KZ-5), helmed by Thomas Andersen with fellow Dane Jesper Bank serving as tactician, continued to dominate today and has a perfect score line going into tomorrow, but with five races to go, second-place New Zealand (KZ-3) has a chance to catch her.

In 12 Metre Spirit Division, America II (US-46), skippered by Michael Fortenbaugh of Jersey City, N.J. remains the leader over its single opponent America II (US-42). Both boats are from the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation, also based in Jersey City, and are raced by members of the Manhattan Sailing Club.

"We're amateurs," said Fortenbaugh, "and we thought it would be better for everybody if we could match race in our own division, so we wouldn't interfere with anyone. We consider ourselves as good guests."

Fortenbaugh also reflected on the significance of the fleet that sailed today. "The reason we acquired these boats is because we think this class is the most important class in American yachting history, and we want to preserve these boats for the next generation."

2019 12 Metre World Championship Results after Day Two: (July 10)

12mR - Grand Prix (4 Boats)
1. Legacy, Thomas Andersen / Jesper Bank, Munkebo, Fyn, Den - 1 -1 -1 -1; 4pts
2. New Zealand, Gunther & Maggie Buerman, Newport, RI, USA - 2 -2 -2 -2; 8pts
3. Kookaburra II, Torben Grael / Patrizio Bertelli, Arezzo, ITA - 3 -3 -3 -3; 12pts 4. Kiwi Magic, Johan Blach Petersen, Aarhus C, DEN - 4 -4 -4 -4; 16

12mR - Modern (8 Boats)
1. Challenge XII, Jack LeFort, Jamestown, RI, USA - 1 -2 -1 -1; 5pts
2. Courageous, Ralph Isham / Steve Glascock / Alexander Auersperg / Ward Marsh, Newport, RI, USA - 2 -1 -2 -4; 9pts
3. Enterprise, Clayton & Nancy Deutsch, Newport, RI, USA - 3 -4 -3 -3; 13pts
4. Victory '83, Dennis Williams, Hobe Sound, FL, USA - 4 -6 -4 -2; 16pts
5. Intrepid, Jack Curtin, Toronto, Ont, CAN - 6 -3 -5 -6; 20pts
6. Freedom, Charles Robertson, Guilford, CT, USA - 5 -5 -6 -5; 21pts
7. Defender, Dick Enersen, San Rafael, CA, USA - 7 -7 -7 -7; 28pts
8. Lionheart, Harry Graves, Grand Isle, VT, USA - 8 -8 -8 -8; 32pts

12mR - Traditional (4 Boats)
1. Columbia, Kevin Hegarty / Anthony Chiurco, Newport, RI, USA - 1 -2 -2 -1; 6pts
2. American Eagle, Eagle 2019 Syndicate, Middletown, RI, USA - 2 -1 -1 -3; 7pts
3. Nefertiti, Jon Sears Wullschleger, Sarasota, FL, USA - 3 -3 -3 -2; 11pts
4. Easterner, Scott Bernard, Annapolis, MD, USA - 5 -5 -5 -5; 20pts

12mR - Vintage (4 Boats)
1. Nyala, Mauro Pelaschier / Patrizio Bertell, Arezzo, ITA - 1 -2 -1 -1; 5pts
2. Onawa, Jim Blanusha / Steven Gewirz / Louis Girard / Earl McMillen / Mark Watson, Newport, RI, USA - 2 -1 -3 -2; 8pts
3. Blue Marlin, Henrik Andersin, Kauniainen, Uusimaa, FIN - 3 -3 -2 -3; 11pts
4. Vema III, Johan Troye, Oslo, Norway, NOR - 4 -4 -4 -4; 16pts

12mR- Spirit (2 Boats)
1. America II, Michael Fortenbaugh, Jersey City, NJ, USA - 1 -2 -1 -2; 6pts
2. America II, Scott Curtis, New York, NY, USA - 3 -1 -2 -1; 7pts

For more information on the 12 Metre Worlds visit 12mrworlds.com

Related Articles

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
An exceptional fleet of grand classics are preparing An exceptional fleet of grand classics led by the legendary three-masted schooner Atlantic, a strong showing from the Wally yachts among the numerous Maxis, and the arrival of the new Magic Carpet e are all signs... Posted on 10 Jul
Vale Hugh Treharne OAM
The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors, Hugh Treharne OAM, who died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in Sydney last night. Posted on 25 Jun
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
Looking ahead to the 27th edition The elegance of the Classics, the power of the Moderns, the majesty of the Maxis. This dreamlike combination, a legacy of the Nioulargue, will once again come together in the stunning setting of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from September 27 to October 5. Posted on 22 Jun
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona preview
Event returns to its traditional dates, at the Barcelona Royal YC From July 9 to 12, the waters off Barcelona will once again set the stage for the latest edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica Regatta - one of the Mediterranean's premier events for classic boats. Posted on 15 Jun
2025 America's Cup Hall of Fame Challenge Preview
Four Iconic 12-Metres To Race for STEM Education Fund NEWPORT, RI The Herreshoff Museum and the America's Cup Hall of Fame are proud to announce the 2025 America's Cup Hall of Fame Challenge, set to take place October 4-5, 2025, in Newport, Rhode Island. Posted on 24 May
Ed Baird: From Laser Worlds to America's Cup
Shirley Robertson's new podcast season kicks off with US sailing legend Ed Baird A World Sailor of the Year award winner, Baird also holds a coveted spot in the America's Cup Hall of Fame, he's a multiple World Champion and is a regular across multiple Grand Prix Sailing leagues, from the 52 Super Series to the Maxi circuit. Posted on 4 May
America's Cup Hall of Fame Challenge in June
This prestigious sailing event will bring together elite teams to compete aboard historic 12m yachts The Herreshoff Museum and the America's Cup Hall of Fame are proud to announce the 2025 America's Cup Hall of Fame Challenge, set to take place June 21-22, 2025, in Newport, Rhode Island. Posted on 18 Mar
Shirley Robertson: The Barcelona Debrief
ETNZ's Nathan Outteridge & Ray Davies, and INEOS' Bleddyn Mon & Dylan Fletcher Shirley Robertson talks to port side helm Nathan Outteridge, and sailing team coach Ray Davies (both ETNZ), to discuss how the Cup was won. She also talks to Challenger INEOS Britannia's port side helm Dylan Fletcher and starboard trimmer Bleddyn Mon. Posted on 1 Nov 2024
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2024 | TP & Cape31
Gold Medallists Will Ryan and Tom Burton on the delights of St Tropez on a TP52 Gold Medallists Will Ryan and Tom Burton on the delights of St Tropez on a TP52, and Michael Wilson on the storming Cape 31 Class Posted on 6 Oct 2024
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2024 | Sailing a 12
The challenges and joys of sailing and maintaining the 12m, Crusader Bow Caddy Media spoke to Jamie Bolingbroke, skipper of Richard Matthews' 12mR Crusader about the challenges and joys of sailing and maintaining this British 1987 America's Cup boat. Posted on 6 Oct 2024
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERRooster 2025Lloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOM