FARR40 Med Fleet

NEWS Jul 2002 - Dec 2002

The perfect plan: Le Renard wins Rolex FARR 40 World Championship 2002

18/11/2002
Paradise Island – Bahamas

In the end, it was all about the man and his boat rather than the place, but when the Farr 40 Class Association first decided to hold its Rolex-sponsored 2002 World Championship at Atlantis, it turned more than a few heads. The Bahamas resort, located on the aptly named Paradise Island, is a mind-boggling water theme playground that recreates the Lost City of Atlantis and provides the world's largest marine habitat, second only to Mother Nature, for more than 50,000 marine animals living in 34 acres of waterscape. The 25 Farr 40s that competed in the event were efficiently accommodated and welcomed by The Marina at Atlantis, and soon after they arrived for the MeesPierson Bahamian National Championship that preceded the Worlds, the highly pedigreed sailboats looked at home among the 200-foot megayachts surrounding them.

Italy's Nerone, the Farr 40 European champion co-owned by Antonio Migliori and Massimo Mezzaroma, won the Bahamian Nationals and established itself as a favorite for the November 13-16 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship along with second-place finisher Defiant, skippered by Canada's Rolex Sailor of the Year Terry McLaughlin (Toronto). But it was Defiant that would go on to make headlines for most of the Worlds and Le Renard, skippered by Steve Phillips of Arnold, Md., that would prevail ultimately as the winner.

Over four days of competition in poster-perfect sailing conditions, Phillips turned in single-digit finishes in all but one of 10 races, which proved the key to his success. "It was our strategy to stay in the top ten in every race," said Phillips, "because the teams here are tremendous. We took a 17th in the first race, but after that we sailed consistently and we stayed out of trouble."

Phillips, the current Farr 40 East Coast champion, credited his tactician Mark Reynolds, a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and three-time Olympic medallist from San Diego, with keeping everyone on track to victory. "I'd hate to play poker with the guy, he stays so cool," said Phillips. "He doesn't let us get in difficult situations." Certainly it was a difficult situation or two that led to the downfall of Defiant, which, after two days and five races, had established its dominance with three first-place finishes and an impressive 22-point lead over Le Renard. In the protest room, two of Defiant's victories turned to disqualifications due to two separate starting line incidents. In race five, the Race Committee protested Flash Gordon, Helmut Jahn's Chicago entry, for fouling on the anchor line of its committee boat. A resulting chain of protests worked backward to Defiant, the alleged source of the problem. In race three, Crocodile Rock, owned by Alex Geremia and Scott Harris of Santa Barbara, Calif., successfully protested Defiant for barging at the start.

"The fleet is very competitive," said Crocodile Rock's tactician Robbie Haines, an Olympic gold medallist from San Diego, Calif. "Consistency and staying out of trouble is the key here." With Defiant dropping out of the top 10, Crocodile Rock moved to second, while Le Renard moved to the top of the leader board.

On day three, which served up light shifty winds instead of the more typical 20-25 knots, Le Renard maintained its lead with solid finishes, while Nerone crept up from sixth to second place ahead of Crocodile Rock. The combination of teams at the top, which now included Groovederci in fourth, would prove volatile on the last day of racing.

Groovederci, skippered by the regatta's only woman skipper Deneen Demourkas of Montecito, Calif., along with Crocodile Rock and Nerone were all over early at the starting line in the last race of the series, and, in their battle back to earn respectable positions, encountered problems at a congested mark. Both Groovederci and Crocodile Rock were protested by Nerone. As a philosophy, "staying out of trouble" failed Crocodile Rock when the jury saw fit to throw the team out of the race, dropping it from a would-be third to fifth overall. Groovederci was propelled to second place, and Samba Pa Ti, the Farr 40 U.S. National champion and 1999 Worlds winner, skippered by John Kilroy of Los Angeles, Calif., moved up to third. Nerone, for all its persistence, snagged fourth.

In the end, however, it was all about one man and his boat. Steve Phillips had stayed true to a promise among crewmembers to "keep it clean" at this regatta. Having bought Le Renard only last summer, he was truly the dark horse. He sailed to a 22-point lead over a fleet that not only represented eight nations but also brimmed with Rolex Yachtsmen of the Year, Olympic Medallists, and veterans of the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Races. He had avoided wild fluctuations of point scores due to protests. He went home with the World Cup, the 2002 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship title and a coveted Rolex timepiece, awarded to him as the top skipper during a standing ovation at the Rolex Awards Party.

"It's an awesome feeling," said Phillips, with a respectful nod to the other 24 owners who, by class rules, must drive their own boats and may not be classified as professional sailors. "There was such tremendous talent here."

As for the location of Atlantis, there may never be another so mismatched with a sailing regatta but at the same time so spectacular … and surprisingly perfect.

Race Day Sponsors were Lewmar, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, North Sails and Rolex. They were joined by supporting sponsors Protector Boats, Carroll Marine and Farr International. For more information visit www.farr40.org.

Place, Boat Name, Skipper, Hometown, Home Country, Finish Positions, Total Score

1. LE RENARD, Steve Phillips, Arnold, Md., USA, 17-2-1-7-9-3-4-9-1-8, 61
2. GROOVEDERCI, Deneen/John Demourkas, Montecito, Calif., USA, 8-19-16-2-3-13-2-1-7-12, 83
3. SAMBA PA TI, John Kilroy, Los Angeles, Calif., USA, 12-5-7-8-12-6-7-16,-6-4, 83
4. NERONE, Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Migliori, Rome, ITALY, 6-1-15-3-20-5-3-8-13-14, 88
5. CROCODILE ROCK, Alexandra Geremia/Scott Harris, Santa Barbara, Calif., USA, 11-9-11-10-1-12-6-2-3-DSQ, 91
6. PEGASUS, Philippe Kahn, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 19-8-19-6-5-4-12-6-10-3, 92
7. BARKING MAD, Jim Richardson, Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I. USA, 13-3-2-13-14-15-14-11-4-6, 95
8. DEFIANT, Terry McLaughlin, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 1-4-DSQ-9-DSQ-7-19-3-8-1, 104
9. BAMBAKOU, John Coumantaros, New York, N.Y., USA, 10-17-5-15-10-17-1-10-18-2, 105
10. JOSS, Owen Kratz, League City, Texas, USA, 9-20-14-12-4-1-9-5-19-13, 106
11. BOTTADICULO, Giovanni Arrivabene/Andrea Bocchini, Massarosa, ITALY, 2-10-6-4-DNF-19-17-4-2-17, 107
12. BREEZE, Vincenzo Onorato, Naples, ITALY, 5-11-22-1-19-16-13-15-11-5, 118
13. KATANGA, Robin Patterson, London, ENGLAND, 22-22-3-11-6-10-15-19-9-7, 125
14. NORWEGIAN STEAM, Eivind Astrup, Oslo, NORWAY, 3-22-18-14-11-11-11-13-5-23, 131
15. ASSEGAI, Leonidas Christeanakis/Chris Hunt, London, ENGLAND, 7-16-21-5-7-20-5-18-23-16, 138
16.VIRAGO, Stuart Townsend, Chicago, Ill., USA, 4-13-20-24-15-2-10-21-20-15, 144
17. EMOTIONAL HOOLIGAN, Marcus Blackmore, Sydney, AUSTRALIA, 14-19-8-16-22-18-20-14-12-11, 154
18. KOKOMO, Lang Walker, Potts Point, AUSTRALIA, 18-15-13-22-13-22-23-7-14-9, 156
19. GONE TOO FARR, Dave Carrel, Belvedere, Calif., USA, 15-12-17-18-17-14-16-17-16-22, 164
20. SOLUTION, John Thomson, Port Washington, N.Y., USA, 16-18-23-19-18-9-22-12-15-18, 170
21. HONOUR, Alek Krstajic, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 24-24-10-20-16-21-8-24-17-10, 174
22. SLED, Takashi Okura, Tokyo, JAPAN, 23-21-9-25-8-8-24-22-22-21, 183
23. MORNING GLORY, Hasso Plattner, GERMANY/San Francisco, Calif., DSQ-6-4-17-2-DNC-DNC-DNC-DNC-DNC, 185
24. NITEMARE, Tom Neill, Berkeley, Ill., USA, 21-7-12-23-21-23-21-23-21-19, 191
25. FLASH GORDON, Helmut Jahn, Chicago, Ill., USA, 20-25-24-21-23-24-18-20-24-20, 219

Worlds: Maryland Sailor Steve Phillips Steers Le Renard to Victory

16/11/2002
Paradise Island – Bahamas

Steve Phillips of Arnold, Md., has steered Le Renard to win the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, which concluded today at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas. Over four days of competition in poster-perfect sailing conditions, Phillips turned in single-digit finishes in all but one of ten races, which proved the key to his success.

"It was our strategy to stay in the top ten in every race," said Phillips, "because the teams here are tremendous an it's very competitive. We took a 17th in the first race, but after that we sailed consistently and we stayed out of trouble."

Phillips, the current Farr 40 East Coast champion, credited his tactician Mark Reynolds, a three-time Olympic medallist from San Diego, with keeping everyone on track to victory. "I'd hate to play poker with the guy, he stays so cool," said Phillips. "He doesn't let us get in difficult situations."

Phillips finished with 61 points overall and a 22-point lead over second-place finisher Groovederci, skippered by the regatta's only woman skipper Deneen Demourkas of Montecito, Calif. Groovederci and would-be third-place finisher Crocodile Rock, skippered by Scott Harris of Santa Barbara, Calif., were over early in today's second race, and in their battle back to earn respectable positions encountered problems at a congested mark. Both boats were protested by Italy's Nerone, with Crocodile Rock losing the battle in the jury room to fall from third to fifth. As a result, Samba Pa Ti, skippered by John Kilroy of Los Angeles, Calif., moved up to third, with Nerone, skippered by Antonio Migliori (Rome) gaining a position as well and finishing fourth.

Place, Boat Name, Skipper, Hometown, Home Country, Finish Positions, Total Score

1. LE RENARD Steve Phillips, Arnold, Md., USA, 17-2-1-7-9-3-4-9-1-8, 61
2. GROOVEDERCI Deneen/John Demourkas, Montecito, Calif., USA, 8-19-16-2-3-13-2-1-7-12, 83
3. SAMBA PA TI John Kilroy, Los Angeles, Calif., USA, 12-5-7-8-12-6-7-16,-6-4, 83
4. NERONE Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Migliori, Rome, ITALY, 6-1-15-3-20-5-3-8-13-14, 88
5. CROCODILE ROCK Alexandra Geremia/Scott Harris, Santa Barbara, Calif., USA, 11-9-11-10-1-12-6-2-3-DSQ, 91
6. PEGASUS Philippe Kahn, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 19-8-19-6-5-4-12-6-10-3, 92
7. BARKING MAD Jim Richardson, Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I. USA, 13-3-2-13-14-15-14-11-4-6, 95
8. DEFIANT Terry McLaughlin, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 1-4-DSQ-9-DSQ-7-19-3-8-1, 104
9. BAMBAKOU John Coumantaros, New York, N.Y., USA, 10-17-5-15-10-17-1-10-18-2, 105
10. JOSS Owen Kratz, League City, Texas, USA, 9-20-14-12-4-1-9-5-19-13, 106
11. BOTTADICULO Giovanni Arrivabene/Andrea Bocchini, Massarosa, ITALY, 2-10-6-4-DNF-19-17-4-2-17, 107
12. BREEZE, Vincenzo Onorato, Naples, ITALY, 5-11-22-1-19-16-13-15-11-5, 118
13. KATANGA Robin Patterson, London, ENGLAND, 22-22-3-11-6-10-15-19-9-7, 125
14. NORWEGIAN STEAM Eivind Astrup, Oslo, NORWAY, 3-22-18-14-11-11-11-13-5-23, 131
15. ASSEGAI Leonidas Christeanakis/Chris Hunt, London, ENGLAND, 7-16-21-5-7-20-5-18-23-16, 138
16.VIRAGO Stuart Townsend, Chicago, Ill., USA, 4-13-20-24-15-2-10-21-20-15, 144
17. EMOTIONAL HOOLIGAN Marcus Blackmore, Sydney, AUSTRALIA, 14-19-8-16-22-18-20-14-12-11, 154
18. KOKOMO Lang Walker, Potts Point, AUSTRALIA, 18-15-13-22-13-22-23-7-14-9, 156
19. GONE TOO FARR Dave Carrel, Belvedere, Calif., USA, 15-12-17-18-17-14-16-17-16-22, 164
20. SOLUTION John Thomson, Port Washington, N.Y., USA , 16-18-23-19-18-9-22-12-15-18, 170
21. HONOUR Alek Krstajic, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 24-24-10-20-16-21-8-24-17-10, 174
22. SLED Takashi Okura, Tokyo, JAPAN, 23-21-9-25-8-8-24-22-22-21, 183
23. MORNING GLORY Hasso Plattner, GERMANY/San Francisco, Calif., DSQ-6-4-17-2-DNC-DNC-DNC-DNC-DNC, 185
24. NITEMARE Tom Neill, Berkeley, Ill., USA, 21-7-12-23-21-23-21-23-21-19, 191
25. FLASH GORDON Helmut Jahn, Chicago, Ill., USA, 20-25-24-21-23-24-18-20-24-20, 219

Worlds: 2.nd day - Defiant's Second-Day Lead Under Protest, Le Renard Close on Heels

15/11/2002
Paradise Island – Bahamas

It was another good day for Terry McLaughlin's Canadian team aboard Defiant, but the evening could prove tough in the protest room. Defiant won the first and third of three races on this second day of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships in Nassau. The team's two victories are threatened, however, by two protests involving incidents at the start. In race three, the Race Committee has protested Flash Gordon, Helmut Jahn's Chicago entry, for fouling on the anchor line of its committee boat. A resulting chain of protests worked backward to Defiant, the alleged source of the problem. In race one, Crocodile Rock, owned by Alex Geremia and Scott Harris of Santa Barbara, Calif., protested Defiant for barging at the start.
"The fleet is very aggressive," said Crocodile Rock's tactician Robbie Haines, an Olympic Gold medallist from San Diego, Calif. "Consistency and staying out of trouble is the key here." With finish positions of 12-10-2 today, Crocodile Rock rose from ninth to third overall in the ideal 20-25 knot breezes.
Also making huge gains today was Le Renard, skippered by Steve Phillips of Arnold, Md., when it posted finishes of 2-7-10 to move up from eighth to second place overall. "As much as everyone wanted to win today, you just have to say that a second is fine," said tactician Mark Reynolds of San Diego, Calif., explaining that Le Renard was winning today's first race up until the last quarter of the last downwind leg. It was then that Defiant caught them. "I've learned from experience that in this class you just need to be in the top ten every race." Under that premise, Reynolds, a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and three-time Olympic medallist, is satisfied with Le Renard's two worse finishes for the day. "In both those races, we were much deeper at times and much better at other times."
Today's second race was won by Breeze, the Italian entry skippered by Vincenzo Onorato, who came straight to this championship after being eliminated from the America's Cup Challenger Races in New Zealand. Breeze currently is in 13th.
Sailing through Saturday on the waters off Atlantis, Paradise Island are 25 teams representing eight nations.
Today officially was Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Day. The event is hosted by the Storm Trysail Club.

Place, Boat Name, Skipper, Hometown, Home Country, Finish Positions, Total Score
1. DEFIANT Terry McLaughlin Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 1-4-1-9-1, 16
2. LE RENARD Steve Phillips Arnold, Md., USA, 17-2-2-7-10, 38
3. CROCODILE ROCK Alexandra Geremia/Scott Harris Santa Barbara, Calif., USA, 11-9-12-10-2, 44
4. SAMBA PA TI John Kilroy Los Angeles, Calif., USA, 12-5-8-8-13,46
5. BARKING MAD Jim Richardson Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I. USA, 13-3-3-13-15, 47
6. NERONE Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Migliori, Rome, ITALY, 6-1-16-3-21, 47
7. BOTTADICULO Giovanni Arrivabene/Andrea Bocchini, Massarosa, ITALY, 2-10-7-4-DNF, 49
8. GROOVEDERCI Deneen/John Demourkas Montecito, Calif., USA, 8-14-17-2-4, 50
9. MORNING GLORY Hasso Plattner GERMANY/San Francisco, Calif., DSQ-6-5-17-3, 57
10. ASSEGAI Leonidas Christeanakis/Chris Hunt London, ENGLAND, 7-16-22-5-8, 58
11. BAMBAKOU John Coumantaros New York, N.Y., USA, 10-17-6-15-11, 59
12. PEGASUS Philippe Kahn Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 19-8-26-6, 59
13 BREEZE, Vincenzo Onorato Naples, ITALY, 5-11-23-1-20, 60
14. JOSS Owen Kratz League City, Texas, USA, 19-20-15-12-5, 61
15. KATANGA Robin Patterson London, ENGLAND, 22-23-4-11-7, 67
16. NORWEGIAN STEAM Eivind Astrup Oslo, NORWAY, 3-22-19-14-12, 70
17.VIRAGO Stuart Townsend Chicago, Ill., USA, 4-13-21-24-16, 78
18. EMOTIONAL HOOLIGAN Marcus Blackmore Sydney, AUSTRALIA, 14-19-9-16-23, 81
19. GONE TOO FARR Dave Carrel Belvedere, Calif., USA, 15-12-18-18-18, 81
20. KOKOMO Lang Walker Potts Point, AUSTRALIA, 18-15-14-22-14, 83
21. NITEMARE Tom Neill Berkeley, Ill., USA, 21-7-13-23-22, 86
22. SLED Takashi Okura Tokyo, JAPANm 23-21-10-25-9, 88
23. HONOUR Alek Krstajic Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 24-24-11-20-17, 96
24. SOLUTION John Thomson Port Washington, N.Y., USA , 16-18-24-19-19, 96
25. FLASH GORDON Helmut Jahn Chicago, Ill., USA, 20-25-25-21-24, 115

Worlds: 1.st day - Italian attack at Paradise Island...

14/11/2002
Paradise Island – Bahamas

CANADA'S DEFIANT LEADS AFTER FIRST DAY AT ROLEX FARR 40 WORLDS
20-Knot Winds Challenge 25-boat Fleet

In a straightforward race that rewarded speed off the starting line, Canada's Terry McLaughlin (Toronto) sailed Defiant to victory in today's opening race at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships, sailed off Paradise Island, Bahamas, and headquartered at Atlantis Resort. McLaughlin led the intense 25-boat fleet by 20 seconds at the first windward mark and was still holding the same lead after two laps around an eight-mile course. A second race seemed to be going Defiant's way again, with McLaughlin leading at the first two marks, until a rainstorm packing 20-knot breezes rolled in like a freight train to disrupt his performance.
"We weren't really set up for it," said McLaughlin, Canada's current Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, "and we lost two boats in it and another on the last leg, but I'll take the fourth we ended up with." In driving rain, the fleet sailed on its ear to a windward mark that could barely, if at all, be seen. The last downwind leg of the course was exhilirating for many, disastrous for others, as huge waves created surfable, sometimes broachable, conditions. Two boats shredded spinnakers.
Atop the leaderboard, McLaughlin has two points over Nerone, skippered by Rome, Italy's Antonio Sodo Migliori. Nerone, the current Farr 40 European Champion, won today's second race and this past weekend's MeesPierson Bahamian Championship, in which Defiant finished second. Also in the top five after today are Italy's two other teams: Bottadiculo, skippered by Giovanni Arrivabene (in third) and Breeze, skippered by recently eliminated America's hopeful Vincenzo Onorato (fifth). Barking Mad, with Jim Richardson of Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I., steering, stands in fourth.
"I am very happy with today," said Arrivabene. "I just bought the boat last August and we first sailed it only five days ago, so I am new to the Farr 40 class."
Up to four of the typical nine-man Farr 40 crew are allowed to be classified other than Group 1 amateur, while the owners strictly must be amateurs and are the only ones permitted to drive. This combination of class rules has cultivated a tight knit group of owner/drivers who are second to none in ability and a vast pool of talented sailors -- both amateur and professional -- clambering for crew positions.
Great Britain's 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist Iain Percy, who is sailing aboard Katanga, skippered by fellow countryman Robin Patterson, said, "considering that the America's Cup is going on, it's an amazing collection here of owners, skippers, tacticians and crews. There are as big of names here, with Cayard, Kostecki and the rest--as down in New Zealand."
Paul Cayard (San Francisco, Calif.), a Rolex Yachtsman of the Year who is taking a break from Cup action to sail with Philippe Kahn (Honolulu, Hawaii) aboard Pegasus, was bruised in the ribs during a jibe in today's storm. Pegasus also had bad luck at the start of today's second race, nicking Bottadiculo's stern early in the race for a penalty of a 360 degree turn.
John Kostecki, another America's Cup veteran and Volvo Ocean Race winner from San Francisco, sailed with John Kilroy (Los Angeles) aboard Samba Pa Ti to a seventh overall today. Kilroy is a Farr 40 World Champion from 1999 and this year's Farr 40 National Champion.
Today was officially Lewmar Race Day. The event is hosted by the Storm Trysail Club. Full results can be found at www.farr40.org

(end)
(full results attached)

1. DEFIANT Terry McLaughlin Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 1-4, 5
2. NERONE Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Migliori, Rome, ITALY, 6-1, 7
3. BOTTADICULO Giovanni Arrivabene/Andrea Bocchini, Massarosa, ITALY, 2-10, 12
4. BARKING MAD Jim Richardson Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I. USA, 13-3, 16
5. BREEZE, Vincenzo Onorato Naples, ITALY, 5-11, 16
6. VIRAGO Stuart Townsend Chicago, Ill., USA, 4-13, 17
7. SAMBA PA TI John Kilroy Los Angeles, Calif., USA, 12-5, 17
8. LE RENARD Steve Phillips Arnold, Md., USA, 17-2, 19
9. CROCODILE ROCK Alexandra Geremia/Scott Harris Santa Barbara, Calif., USA, 11-9, 20
10. GROOVEDERCI Deneen/John Demourkas Montecito, Calif., USA, 8-14, 22
11. ASSEGAI Leonidas Christeanakis/Chris Hunt London, ENGLAND, 7-16, 23
12. NORWEGIAN STEAM Eivind Astrup Oslo, NORWAY, 3-22, 25
13. PEGASUS Philippe Kahn Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 19-8, 27
14. BAMBAKOU John Coumantaros New York, N.Y., USA, 10-17, 27
15. GONE TOO FARR Dave Carrel Belvedere, Calif., USA, 15-12, 27
16. MORNING GLORY Hasso Plattner GERMANY/San Francisco, Calif., 22-6, 28
17. NITEMARE Tom Neill Berkeley, Ill., USA, 21-7, 28
18. JOSS Owen Kratz League City, Texas, USA, 19-20, 29
19. EMOTIONAL HOOLIGAN Marcus Blackmore Sydney, AUSTRALIA, 14-19, 33
20. KOKOMO Lang Walker Potts Point, AUSTRALIA, 18-15, 33
21. SOLUTION John Thomson Port Washington, N.Y., USA , 16-18, 34
22. FLASH GORDON Helmut Jahn Chicago, Ill., USA, 20-25, 45
23. SLED Takashi Okura Tokyo, JAPANm 24-21, 45
24. KATANGA Robin Patterson London, ENGLAND, 23-23, 46
25. HONOUR Alek Krstajic Toronto, Ontario, CANADA, 25-24, 49

Paradise Island: Vincenzo Onorato Rushes to Rolex Farr 40 World Championship

11/11/2002
Paradise Island – Bahamas

Just eliminated from the challenger races for the America’s Cup, Italy’s Vincenzo Onorato has made a beeline to Paradise Island in the Bahamas, where the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship begins next Wednesday, Nov. 13. The four-day event, staged at the Atlantis resort, will be hosting the strongest group of sailors north of the Hauraki Gulf and is to be preceded this weekend by the MeesPierson Bahamian Championship at which all but a few in the now 25-boat Rolex fleet will compete. Onorato is bringing with him four of his America’s Cup crewmen to sail as part of team Mascalzone Latino, the same name given to his America’s Cup campaign.

"I took immediate action because we enjoy sailing and we love the Farr 40 class," said Onorato, who finished second at the 1999 Farr 40 Worlds and won both the IMS Worlds and the Mumm 30 Worlds in 2000. "I’m happy to be back." Onorato, who will charter a boat for both the MeesPierson and the Rolex events, owns two Farr 40s but logistically could not get either to the Bahamas in time.

"The MeesPierson Bahamian Championship will give the teams a chance to check out their Worlds competition at the same venue and under the same conditions," said Farr 40 Class Secretary Renee Mehl. "Many of the boats got together in Miami recently, as well, to tune up. There will be some very serious racing at both events."

Other Top Talent

It would be hard to pick a clear favorite for the Worlds, but the two past World Champions, Jim Richardson (Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I.) aboard Barking Mad and John Kilroy (Los Angeles, Calif.) aboard Samba Pa Ti, have been training hard all year for this moment. Italy's Antonio Sodo Migliori and Massimo Mezzaroma, who co-own Nerone, should post a strong showing as the current Farr 40 European Champions, with Philippe Kahn (Honolulu, Hawaii) and his Pegasus--helped by 1998 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and Whitbread Round the World Race winner Paul Cayard (San Francisco, Calif.)--promising to light a fire under them. As dark horses, Steve Phillips (Arnold, Md.), driving Le Renard, and Terry McLaughlin (Toronto, Canada), steering Defiant also are keen to win.

"We haven't really sailed Defiant in a big fleet before," said McLaughlin, who bought his boat in March of 2001 to prepare for the Canada's Cup, a match-racing event that he won in September. "I anticipate it being difficult, especially with this group." McLaughlin, the Canadian Yachting Association's 2001 Rolex Sailor of the Year and the 1984 Olympic Silver Medallist in Flying Dutchman class, will bring with him five crew from his winning Canada's Cup team.

Having bought Le Renard only last summer, Phillips will be the other "new guy on the block," but he comes with a cohesive team that most recently topped the 50-boat fleet at the J/105 Worlds. Sailing with Phillips will be Mark Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.), USA's three-time Star class Olympic Medallist who was named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in 2000.

Up to four of the typical nine-man Farr 40 crew are allowed to be classified other than Group 1 amateur, while the owners strictly must be amateurs and are the only ones permitted to drive. This combination of class rules has cultivated a tight knit group of owner/drivers who are second to none in ability and a vast pool of talented sailors -- both amateur and professional -- clambering for crew positions.

Also among the who's who of crew is Chris Larson (Annapolis, Md.), America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veteran who was named Rolex Yachtsman in 1997. He will sail with skipper John Coumantaros (New York, N.Y.) aboard Bambakou, which won both its class and overall honors at the Sardinia Cup held last month in Porto Cervo. Other notables aboard are Great Britain's Lou Varney and Guy Barron.

Other Olympic medallists competing are Steve Benjamin (S. Norwalk, Conn.), 1984 Silver-470 Men (aboard Virago, skippered by Stuart Townsend of Chicago, Ill.); John Kolius (LaPorte, Texas),1976 Silver-Soling (aboard Joss, skippered by by fellow Texan Owen Kratz of League City); Robbie Haines (San Diego, Calif.), 1984 Gold-Soling (aboard Crocodile Rock, skippered by Santa Barbara's Alexandra Geremia and Scott Harris); Great Britain's Iain Percy, 2000 Gold-Finn, and 2002 Star Class World Champion (aboard Katanga, skippered by fellow countryman Robin Patterson); John Kostecki (San Francisco, Calif.),1988 Silver-Soling, and winner 2002 Volvo Ocean Race (aboard John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti); and Jeff Madrigali (Langley, Wash.), 1996 Bronze-Soling (aboard Terry McLaughlin's Defiant).

Two well-known Bahamian sailors, Gavin Mckinney and Craig Symonette, will sail aboard Norwegian Steam, skippered by Norway's Eivind Astrup . Both past commodores of the Nassau Yacht Club, McKinney and Symonette competed in August at the 5.5 Worlds to take a bronze medal and finished second at the Scandinavian Gold Cup. "We are excited to take part in such a high powered regatta and to get the chance to show everybody how beautiful the Bahamas are," said Symonette.

Racing for the fifth annual Rolex Farr 40 World Championship will take place on the crystal blue waters off the coast of Nassau. Sailors will be racing for the World Cup, which is a beautiful Boda crystal trophy. A Rolex timepiece goes to the winning skipper.

FARR 40 ENTRIES AT WORLDS BY COUNTRY
updated 11/6/2002

USA (13)
BAMBAKOU John Coumantaros New York, N.Y., USA
BARKING MAD Jim Richardson Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I. USA
CROCODILE ROCK Alexandra Geremia/Scott Harris Santa Barbara, Calif., USA
FLASH GORDON Helmut Jahn Chicago, Ill., USA
LE RENARD Steve Phillips Arnold, Md., USA
GONE TOO FARR Dave Carrel Belvedere, Calif., USA
GROOVEDERCI Deneen/John Demourkas Montecito, Calif., USA
JOSS Owen Kratz League City, Texas, USA
NITEMARE Tom Neill Berkeley, Ill., USA
PEGASUS Philippe Kahn Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
SAMBA PA TI John Kilroy Los Angeles, Calif., USA
SOLUTION John Thomson Port Washington, N.Y., USA
VIRAGO Stuart Townsend Chicago, Ill., USA

ITALY (3)
BOTTADICULO Giovanni Arrivabene/Andrea Bocchini Massarosa, ITALY
MASCALZONE LATINO Vincenzo Onorato Naples, ITALY
NERONE Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Migliori Rome, ITALY

AUSTRALIA (2)
EMOTIONAL HOOLIGAN Marcus Blackmore Sydney, AUSTRALIA
KOKOMO Lang Walker Potts Point, AUSTRALIA

CANADA (2)
DEFIANT Terry McLaughlin Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
HONOUR Alek Krstajic Toronto, Ontario, CANADA

ENGLAND (2)
ASSEGAI Leonidas Christeanakis/Chris Hunt London, ENGLAND
KATANGA Robin Patterson London, ENGLAND

NORWAY (1)
NORWEGIAN STEAM Eivind Astrup Oslo, NORWAY

JAPAN (1)
SLED Takashi Okura Tokyo, JAPAN

GERMANY (1)
MORNING GLORY Hasso Plattner GERMANY/San Francisco, Calif., USA

Paradise Island: The European Champion Nerone wins the Bahamians

10/11/2002
Paradise Island – Bahamas

It was anybody's game today going into the final races of the MeesPierson Bahamian Regatta, but Italy's Nerone, with owner Antonio Migliori (Rome) at the helm, posted finishes of 1-3 to win the two-day, five-race series hands down. Nerone edged out yesterday's leader Defiant, skippered by Terry McLaughlin of Toronto, Canada, by three points in overall scoring and sent a clear message that the Italians mean business here in the Bahamas. It will be on these same waters off Paradise Island that this week's Rolex Farr 40 World Championship will host the same fleet in expected similar light-air conditions. Three Italian teams are among 24 from eight countries tuning up for the Worlds.

"We spent 10 days in Miami speed testing in light winds," said Migliori, who is the current Farr 40 European champion, "so the boat is set up for light air and this is good." Asked if these were preferred conditions for his team, Migliori laughed, pointing out that his European title was won in winds of 30 knots.

"With 24 boats at this level, it is hard in any wind," said Migliori, who says that along with Defiant he will be watching most closely Pegasus, with Philippe Kahn of Honolulu, Hawaii, at the helm, and Samba Pa Ti, with John Kilroy of Los Angeles, Calif. driving. Samba Pa Ti finished third overall with Pegasus finishing sixth even after winning two races yesterday. Defiant won today's second race but finished 13th in the first, which was clearly the team's downfall.

As the winner of the MeesPierson Farr 40 Bahamian Championship, Migliori will be awarded The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Cup trophy. It has been dedicated by the Nassau Yacht Club as a perpetual trophy and will remain on display in Nassau. Trophies for the regatta will be presented at the Bahamian Government House on November 12, in conjunction with the Opening Ceremony for the World Championship.

Title sponsor of the event, MeesPierson (Bahamas) Ltd. is a Dutch based financial services and wealth management company with a strong tradition in maritime connections. It is one of Nassau's larger, fully integrated Private Bank & Trust Companies, providing not only the standard private banking menu of services but specialty services as well, such as yacht and aircraft registry and finance. As a member of MeesPierson's (established 1720) "Private Wealth Management" group, they are part of more than 30 continental European offices as well as international offices in Bermuda, Curacao, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, London and Singapore. MeesPierson is, in turn, an important part of Fortis' 70,000 person Global Financial Collective. Fortis wholly owns MeesPierson N.V. (100%shareholder of MP Bahamas Ltd.) and is now ranked by Forbes magazine in its "World Super 50" as one of the world's largest companies with assets approaching $500billion.

Porto Cervo ITA 29/07/02 – Sardinia Cup: Breakin' Real rumors from Spain...

The news is still secret but every thing seems to be ok.

We'll have a special Euro team composed by H.M. Don Juan Carlos de Espana and the "terminator" of the F40 fleet Mr. George Andreadis from Greece.

It's a wonderful team with Bribon, on of the most performing IMS at the moment and Atalanti, the F40 that really dominated the first part of the Med Circuit...

The show is already "on air"...don't miss it !

Porto Cervo ITA 18/07/02 – Sardinia Cup: Here you have the first italian team....

Tutto sembra confermato e dalle indiscrezioni di banchina, il primo team italiano è già stato formato.

Si tratta, come previsto dalla formula della Sardinia Cup, di un Farr40 e di un IMS 600 ed entrando nel dettaglio e scoprendo gli ultimi veli, la squadra dovrebbe essere composta dal Farr40 Silphea del Presidente della flotta mediterranea Alberto Signorini e dal Gran Soleil 44 Giacomelli Sport portato da Gabriele Benussi, che è stato il tattico di Signorini per tutta la vittoriosa stagione del Farr40.

Ora, resta da capire chi prenderà il posto di Benussi a fianco di Signorini alle scelte tattiche e... a meno di clamorosi colpi di scena dell'ultimo momento sembra proprio certo che il pozzetto del Farr40 italiano sarà arricchito dalla presenza di una vecchia conoscenza dei velisti (e non) italiani. Si tratta probabilmente del più famoso "velista adottivo italiano"....non ci siete ancora ? Beh, allora fate un balzo indietro di 10 anni con la memoria e ricordatevi di un contadino condottiero di nome Raul che ebbe l'ardore di sfidare i mostri sacri dello yachting mondiale tentando di strappar loro la magica "brocca d'argento" e finì con la prima vittoria italiana alla Louis Vuitton Cup...see yah soon !

Porto Cervo ITA 06/07/02 – Euros: Nerone crowned Farr40 European Champion

The final race of the Farr 40 European Championship was sailed on the race course just outside the entrance to Porto Cervo in a shifty, moderate wind range of 8-15 knots from the northwest. It offered a new challenge for those who had grown accustomed to the heavy air and currents in the bay. A longer five - leg course was signalled. There were several lead changes during the race, typical of the close compeititon in this fleet, and the lighter conditions mixed up the standings throughout the fleet.

Massimo Mezzaroma's Nerone had a great start and sailed fast and smart, covering their closest competitors. They followed Bruno Tronchetti Provera's Shear Terror around the track, and overtook them on the final leg to take line honors, followed by Shear Terror, then Nela. The Nerone crew jumped up in celebration when crossing the finish, knowing that their victory on the race course put them at the top of the podium for the regatta.

Struntje Light finished sixth for the race, tying for points with Nela for second overall but Struntje having more first place finishes took second on the countback. Struntje Light didn't get off the starting line in the best position for the final race but recovered with good boat speed.

Michael Illbruck, owner driver of Nela, took a podium finish in his first major Farr 40 regatta (his first Farr 40 regatta was the Porto Rotundo event last week). In his first major regatta as a competitor since the 1987 Admiral's Cup, Illbruck is impressed with the level of competition and organization in the Farr 40 class. ""It's wonderful to be racing in this class. The organization is very good. It's competitive, there's lots of changes in the fleet ... it's fantastic."

The 2003 European Championship venue will be announced soon. The schedule will be posted on the Mediterranean Farr 40 fleet website at www.farr40.it

North Sails is a Farr 40 Class sponsor and a world class supplier of One Design sails.

Final results:

boat	owner	tactician	points	total
Nerone	M. Mezzaroma	V. Vascotto	10, 1, 3, 2, 4, 8, 1, 2, 1	32
Struntje Light	W. Schaefer	I. Percy	3, 3, 1, 7, 3, 1, 11, 1, 6	36
Nela	M. Illbruck	J. Kostecki	8, 2, 7, 1, 2, 5, 4, 4, 3	36
Sylphea	A. Signorini	G. Benussi	2, 11, 6, 3, 1, 6, 5, 3, 15	52
Atalanti	G. Andreadis	R. Haines	1, 7, 9, 10, 7, 15, 2, 14, 4	69

Porto Cervo ITA 05/07/02 – Euros: Struntje Light still leading with one day left

The third day of racing in the Settimana delle Bocche Farr 40 European Championship was a continuation of the breezy mistral conditions and extremely close racing that has characterized this series. Three windward leeward courses were run in the bay in 19-25 knots of warm wind blowing over the island of Sardinia.

The left side of the inshore course was typically favored today, similar to yesterday's racing. Race 8 of the regatta, which was the last race of the day, had two general recalls before the overanxious boats got off the start line and on their way up the first leg. Wolfgang Schaefer's German entry Struntje Light is precariously holding their lead at the end of racing today, with an eleventh place finish sandwiched between two firsts. It is a cliffhanger of a day, with only seven points between the top four boats, and one race remaining in the event. Competition is sure to promise a spectacle tomorrow between Struntje Light, Nerone, Nela and Sylphea. Any one of them could claim the European Champion title, that will be awarded at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's newly re-opened Piazza Azzura on Saturday afternoon.

Racing concludes tomorrow with one race planned. The forecast is for lighter wind, which should challenge the sailors who have enjoyed a breezy series. They will need to change gears and rig tuning to get the most from their boats and the best of the competitors.

North Sails is a Farr 40 Class sponsor and a world class supplier of One Design sails.

Provisional results:

boat	owner	tactician	points	total
Struntje Light	W. Schaefer	I. Percy	3, 3, 1, 7, 3, 1, 11, 1	30
Nerone	M. Mezzaroma	V. Vascotto	10, 1, 3, 2, 4, 8, 1, 2	31
Nela	M. Illbruck	J. Kostecki	8, 2, 7, 1, 2, 5, 4, 4	33
Sylphea	A. Signorini	G. Benussi	2, 11, 6, 3, 1, 6, 5, 3	37
Atalanti	G. Andreadis	R. Haines	1, 7, 9, 10, 7, 15, 2, 14	65

Porto Cervo ITA 04/07/02 – Euros: Struntje Maintain Lead, Nela Moves into 2.nd in Euros

A mistral wind continued to blow on the second day of Farr 40 racing off the Costa Smeralda. It was slightly more wind than yesterday, with 22-31 knots reported. Two windward leeward courses were set inside the protected waters of the bay. The regatta leaders all started at the pin to head for the left side of the course, where there were smaller waves and less current. Two boats tried out the right side on the first beat, but the boats on the left came out ahead, led by Nerone and Nela, then Sylphea. Those three put distance on the fleet during the run. The entire pack of 17 boats went up the favored left side of the next beat. There was a close battle between Nerone and Nela for line honors, and the lead changed several times with Nela emerging as the victor, surfing just a half boat length ahead. Madina and A Bit of a Coup surfed over the line with Madina barely a second ahead in fifth place in a classic photo finish.
The wind increased to the higher end of the range for the second race, and shifted to the left. There was a big puff across the start line during the sequence, but it was a clean start, and the tightly knit pack of boats headed off to the left side of the course. The German boats led around the top mark, Nela in first followed by Struntje Light. They had a fantastic ride downwind planing on the waves at 17-21 knots of boat speed. Their bow waves were white plumes of spray as they flew to the leeward mark. Nela and Struntje Light split at the gate, and Slyphea edged into second place on the beat. It was another wild ride down to the finish on a course flecked with whitecaps. Struntje Light's 7 and 3rd place finishes were enough to keep them in the lead, but they only have a three point margin on countrymates aboard Nela.
Racing for the European Championship continues tomorrow with three races planned. Class sponsor North Sails is providing daily weather service and is hosting an owners dinner at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda this evening. North Sails is a world class supplier of One Design sails.
Provisional results:

boat	owner	tactician	points	total
Struntje Light	W. Schaefer	I. Percy	3, 3, 1, 7, 3	17
Nela	M. Illbruck	J. Kostecki	8, 2, 7, 1, 2	20
Nerone	M. Mezzaroma	V. Vascotto	10, 1, 3, 2, 4	20
Sylphea	A. Signorini	G. Benussi	2, 11, 6, 3, 1	23
Atalanti	G. Andreadis	R. Haines	1, 7, 9, 10, 7	34

Porto Cervo ITA 03/07/02 – Euros: Struntje Light takes the lead after day 1

The first day of racing at the Farr 40 European Championship Settimana della Bocche(Week of the Straights) offered absolutely perfect sailing conditions for the seventeen yachts entered. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda ran three windward leeward courses around the corner to the west of Porto Cervo in a protected bay. The wind was a constant 20-25 knots from 275-290 degrees in bright sunshine on flat water off the Costa Smeralda.

There was some current going downwind, which made for some very interesting weather mark roundings. According to Chris Larson, the tactician on John Coumantaros' Bambakou, there were "some mysterious headers that came about 200' from the weather mark" that also added to the excitement at the top of the course. Boats were extremely close after the long weather legs, and the traffic on the starboard layline was heavy. There were a few port tack boats that sailed well up the course, but had to duck almost the entire fleet to get to their destination.

Wolfgang and Angela Schaefer's German entry Struntje Light emerged as the overall winner at the end of the day, with three podium finishes. Crossing the line in first place was a great end to their first day. Olympic sailor Iain Percy is their tactician for this regatta.

The Italian boat owned by Massimo Mezzaroma and Antonio sodo Migliori were also consistent in the breeze. They are well practiced, having just won the final event of the Mediterranean Championship in Porto Rotundo last week. Racing was extremely close with three different winners of the individual races. George Andreadis' Greek entry Atalanti took the first victory of the day, and finished behind Nerone in the provisional overall standings.

This summer is the first season that the Farr 40 Class is racing in the Mediterranean. The Bruce Farr design has become very popular in the United States, northern Europe and Australia and has been attracting attention during its inaugural Circuit racing in Italy and France. This is the second European Championship for the class. The first was held in Hamble, England prior to last year's World Championship in Cowes.

Racing continues tomorrow with two races planned, and will conclude on Saturday.

North Sails is the Class sponsor for this regatta, and are providing a daily weather service and hosting an owners' dinner at the newly refurbished Yacht Club Costa Smeralda following their annual owners' meeting tomorrow evening.

Provisional results:

boat	owner	tactician	points	total
Struntje Light	W. Schaefer	I. Percy	3, 3, 1	7
Nerone	M. Mezzaroma	V. Vascotto	10, 1, 3	14
Atalanti	G. Andreadis	R. Haines	1, 7, 9	17
Nela	M. Illbruck	J. Kostecki	8, 2, 7	17
A Bit of a Coup	T. Buckingham	K. Sproule	12, 5, 2	19