News Around the World
Having done this, the boat now needs a home. The Australian Maritime Museum has declined the offer of housing Venom, judging it to be a replica, and they maintain the museum is not for replicas – but I would disagree. If the original no longer exists, surely an accurate replica of the world championship-winning boat that revolutionised Australia’s most famous class, designed and built by Australia’s most famous designer, deserves a home? Interestingly, one of the same museum’s key attractions is a replica of James Cook’s HMS Bark Endeavour, launched in 1993 with initial funding from Alan Bond and project managed by John ‘Chink’ Longley, crew of Australia II and a close friend of Ben Lexcen. What happened to Captain Cook’s original HMS Endeavour? Well, it was discovered lying on the seabed having been scuttled off New- port, RI – home of the Auld Mug until Benny, Bertrand, Bond and co changed the America’s Cup for ever. It’s funny how history has a way of connecting interesting people with interesting projects. Blue Robinson
SPAIN
Although there was sunshine in Palma, fortunately this edition of the Copa del Rey Mapfre did not have the usual humid asphyxiating heat, but it did have good participation, with 132 boats from 20 countries ranging from the Viper 640 class to Maxi72s. It also trialled a new scoring format. The first three days were ‘part one’, then each boat began the final ‘part two’ series with points based on its position at the conclusion of the first phase. Thus the difference between the first and second boat would start off as a single point – though in the initial series the difference was obviously greater. The objective was to increase the chances of victory for more boats going into the second half of the event. Before making the decision to proceed organisers re-scored last year’s regatta under this two-part arrangement and the orders did not significantly change, with all the class winners staying the same. However… the likely frontrunners this year were very restless at
the beginning of the series, saying the new scenario did not allow any mistake on the final two days – three concluding races and no discard. ‘I don’t think it’s a good solution. The Cup has always been a difficult regatta because of the number of races over a long week. Consistency was the main requirement to win,’ said multiple Copa winner Roberto ‘Chuny’ Bermúdez, tactician on this year’s Swan 42 class winner Natalia. ‘But beyond that we just have to understand how to compete in this new scenario. My strategy was sailing a little more relaxed in the initial phase while steadily improving our set-up. ‘I knew the first day of the finals would be decisive with two races, half the final result. Fortunately after winning the first series we began the final with 1pt and on D-day returned from the racecourse with a bullet and a second… We took no risks in the last race and a third place gave us a respectable overall margin. On balance I do not mind this new arrangement!’
Others were much happier to be allowed a second chance after starting off poorly. The eventual winner in ORC 3, L’Inmens skippered by Carlos Rodríguez, finished phase one in sixth position, 23pt behind the interim leader. With the old scoring system he would have been absolutely ruled out of even a podium. I spoke to Rodríguez after a bad first day (10-6-6). He told me smiling, ‘Luckily the new classification system can give us a second life.’ And so it proved… the team’s final three results of 2,1,3 added to her 6pt for the opening ‘mini-series’ ensured overall victory. All great regattas overflow with stories and characters. The Copa del Rey is no exception and foreign participation is becoming more and more significant, now exceeding 50 per cent. Famous faces have never been in short supply but even I had to rub my eyes to make sure that the guy who was hiding under a wide-brimmed hat and polarised sunglasses was him… Monsieur Loïck Peyron. We found a discreet corner on the busy yacht club terrace to chat and enjoy a cigarette. ‘This is my first time racing Copa del Rey, I was here some years ago as a BMW ambassador but no racing. ‘I came to Puerto Portals many years ago with the Orma trimarans
SUien
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GGING ality and Performance
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