44 Cup, Team Ceeref claims golden wheels

In evidenza Monotipia RC44 Vela 14 Aprile 2019 Zerogradinord 0

Bay of Tivat came good for the final day of the 44Cup Porto Montenegro with three races held and a worthy winner in Igor...

Tivat – Bay of Tivat came good for the final day of the 44Cup Porto Montenegro with three races held and a worthy winner in Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref. The Slovenian team led this first event of the 2019 44 Cup from the outset, coming home ahead of Vladimir Prosikhin’s Team Nika. Today neither boat won a race but showed impeccable consistency, both enjoying a trio of podium place results elevating Team Nika from fourth to second overall.

Today’s opening race got underway in light conditions, but eminently race-able by the nimble high performance one design RC44s. In this Team Aqua won the pin and then spent the race match racing Team Ceeref coming home ten boatlengths ahead.

On Thursday, Kirill Frolov on Bronenosec Sailing should have won the first race, holding a massive lead until their spinnaker blew up on the last run. In today’s second race they made up for this. The Russian RC44 followed Team Ceeref at the top mark but then John Bassadone’s Peninsula Petroleum took the right side of the course on the downwind to claim the lead. Bronenosec Sailing edged ahead on the second upwind to lead at the top mark and from there looked comfortable to the finish.

With a crew led by top Italian tactician Michele Ivaldi, it was the turn of Hugues Lepic’s Aleph Racing to win the third and what turned out to be the final race, held on a new axis course, the wind having veered into the west. The French RC44 won the pin but then, tacking over, benefitted greatly on the right side of the course to lead at the top mark. From there she was never challenged.

Team Ceeref’s victory at the 44Cup Porto Montenegro was by seven points from Team Nika, in turn two ahead of Team Aqua with Peninsula Petroleum relegated to fourth after a disappointing final race.

While the fleet racing is over, tomorrow a pro-am race will be sailed on a coastal race, the nine RC44 sailing with more guests on board than usual.

From Montenegro the RC44s head up the Adriatic to Rovinj, Croatia for their second event of the season, the Adris 44Cup over 29 May to 2 June.

For full results visit: www.44Cup.org/results