March 11, 2007
by Chrs McLaughlin
(
BangTheCorner) -
11 Mar |
0 comments
Jay Ailworth
Strange Bird Photography
Inmarsat steps up
Inmarsat,(GB), sailed by triple J24 European Champion, Ian Southworth continues to progress through the World Championship fleet here at Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. The championship has attracted 70 boats from 17 countries and continues to test some of the world’s best helms.
The J24 will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2008 but the racing continues to be fresh and close as competitors choose to sail this strictly controlled, one-design boat.
The Puerta Vallarta World Championship has provided difficult conditions with most racing in less than 6 knots and shifts of 20 -25 degrees a regular occurrence.
Mastering the conditions to date is current World Champion, Mauricio Santa Cruz of Brazil, sailing Bruschetta, a newly-built Italia J-Boat, paid for by Corporate sponsors, Globalstar. The boat will be presented to the Mexican Class for use by members on the Texas circuit in 2008.
Globalstar has provided individual tracking devices on each boat to enable web watchers to see how individuals are doing.
For the leading group, today will be about avoiding errors. Twenty points separate Mauricio Santa Cruz from 5th placed Wataru Sakamoto of Japan, who was second at the 2006 World Championship. Each of the top four competitors can, mathematically, win the title and conditions will be very testing again. The race officer has moved the start forward to noon, but to date there has been little or no wind at that time, while local uncharted tide flows make starts and approaches to marks difficult to judge.
The current positions are a who’s who of J24 sailors. Santa Cruz and his team of Brazilian Olympic sailors needs no introduction. In second is Chris Snow of North Sails, USA, who has won many North American titles. Third placed Mark Hillman,(USA) of Quantum sails has 2005 World Champion Anthony Koutoun as his tactician.
Joint fourth placed Mike Ingham of North Sails, USA is facing a re-run of the 2006 Worlds where Britain’s Ian Southworth took third position from him.
Sakamoto and countryman, Yasuka Funazawa hold 5th and 6th positions, while Rossi Milev of Canada is in 7th. Luis Grimaldi of Argentine is in 8th pl”ace.
Said Ian Southworth: “ This is a very hot fleet. We have no discard so that will dictate or approach to risk today. We are going to sail each race in isolation and see if we can improve”.
Ian Southworth’s crew is: Andy McLelland, Max Skelley, Chris McLaughlin and Chris Crockett. They are using Crockett’s Italia J Boat, with Charleston spars and Ullman sails. Inmarsat plc, the mobile satellite communications group have supported them, as have Henri Lloyd and Harken UK.
