January 26, 2008
by Mean Machine Sailing Team
26 Jan |
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Mean Machine finishes in sixth place in the 25-strong Farr 40 fleet
Acura Key West 2008
21st-25th January
Expectation and enthusiasm were high at Key West this week, but the level of competition was even steeper. It was a star studded regatta, with the world’s best sailors on the start-line of this competitive one-design class. It was also a somewhat dramatic edition of this 21 year-old regatta, with fickle winds stealing two racing days from the eager entrants. However, the slow start to the week turned into a spectacular finale with sunshine and winds of up to 20 knots. The race organizers managed to squeeze 8 races into 3 days, a feat much appreciated by the enthusiastic fleet.
The final two days of racing saw N and NE breezes of 12-20 knots for the fleet to play with, and some close racing among the Farr 40 fleet. At our last update Mean Machine was standing 2nd on the overall scoresheet after three races. Shifting positions were always on the cards with such top level competition and such a narrow points spread among the top boats.
As always with windward-leeward racing, the key was in consistency; a consistency that unfortunately eluded Peter de Ridder and crew this Key West. The team managed a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, nineteenth and twentieth place over the course of the week. These results show Mean Machine is capable of reaching those podium positions, but more performance stability is needed to guarantee a place at the top of the Farr 40 rankings. With the boat’s limited experience, some adjustment time is needed, and hopefully with more practice and training for the next Farr 40 challenge (the Rolex Pre-Worlds in April) the team will be blazing a trail ahead of the rest of the one-design fleet.
In the end victory and the coveted “Acura Boat of the Week” Trophy goes to the US’s own Barking Mad, with Italians Mascalzone Latino taking second place, joined on points. Erik Maris’s Twins took third, Massimo Mezzaroma’s Nerone fourth and Alessandro Bernardo’s Fiamma fifth. Mean Machine finished sixth overall, a respectable result in a star-studded fleet, but one Peter de Ridder aims to improve on the next time the team hits the start line.
