2019 FAST40+ One Ton Cup - Day 2
by Louay Habib 20 Sep 2019 12:18 PDT
18-22 September 2019
18 knots, gusting over 20, with a rough sea state, had the FAST40+ fleet at full speed on the second day of the One Ton Cup. The FAST40+ fleet enjoyed a full-on day of thrilling racing with enthralling action.
Niklas Zennstrom's Rán now leads by a single point from Peter Morton's Girls on Film. Ed Fishwick's Redshift is still on the podium but the rest of the fleet have closed in. Christian Hamilton and Guy Gallon's 42 South are just half a point behind Redshift, as is Steve Cowie's Zephyr. Tony Dickin's Jubilee is just half a point ahead of Filip Engelbert's Elvis.
Race Four: Rán was quick out of the blocks building a lead on the first upwind leg. Elvis and Girls on Film were in hot pursuit, as the leaders pulled the trigger smoking downwind at electric pace. Rán's crew showed exceptional boat handling and boat speed to win the race by 84 seconds. Elvis beat Girls on Film to the line by 26 seconds to claim second with Girls on Film Third.
Race Five: With a building tide against 20 knots of wind speed, the second race of the day was absolutely full on. Bright sunshine and a full on foam up had the FAST40+ fleet in their element. Spread out across the race track searching for the best breeze and flat water on the first upwind leg.
Rán led at the first top mark but Girls on Film was only a boat length or so behind. Rán won their second race of the day with Girls on Film second. Elvis was having another cracking race but a top performance in Race 5 belonged to Zephyr. Downwind the Scottish team put in several well placed and well executed heavy air gybes. Passing Elvis and Jubilee within metres of the finish, Zephyr took third.
Race Six: The FAST40+ fleet hit the start line together and full pelt but Rán and 42 South were called over and had to restart correctly. Peter Morton's Girls on Film led the fleet around the top mark with Zephyr in second, and Rán showing incredible performance to round in third. Rán put in an early gybe with Girls on Film loose covering from the front. Girls on Film held on to take the gun, Rán made second and Zephyr finished a good day off in style to take third.
Niklas Zennstrom - Owner/Driver Rán
"On the tiller of Rán on a day like this you have to be totally focused especially on keeping the right heel angle upwind. Downwind we were doing close to 20 knots of boat speed which is really exhilarating. I am so glad we have to come Le Havre, it is a really open race track and none of us have sailed here a lot so it is a new venue full of opportunities."
Peter Morton - Owner/Driver Girls on Film
"Just fantastic conditions today, yesterday was very tricky with lots of shifts and Dave Lenz did a fantastic job as tactician. Today was windy but the direction was steadier, so boat speed was the key, and boat handling. We broke our take-down line but I am sure everybody had their problems today. I am happy with our consistency but Rán is incredibly quick; in the last race to come back from an OCS to only 30 metres behind us at the end, I hope we have a shifty day tomorrow."
Filip Englebert - Owner/Driver Elvis
"It was fantastic today, the best sailing day Elvis has ever had. Unfortunately the results did not materialise because you pay for small screw-ups in this tight fleet- it's fierce but fun, and all boats can win which makes it fantastic. It was amazing racing in perfect conditions, we had our best figures upwind, and when you round the top mark and feel the acceleration it is extremely wet but so much fun - hilarious!
Christian Hamilton - Charterer/Driver 42 South
"Utterly glorious weather, sunshine and 22 knots at times, racing in a really good fleet. Other than a practice sail last week, this is the first time in the class. 42 South goes like a dinghy, absolutely flying downwind, and even in the chop we had today really smooth upwind. What is also great is that being a development class, each boat has a different mode and different quirks which make the racing really fun."
Find full results here.