Si è conclusa a Cattolica la "Jaeger LeCoultre Just The Best" e a vincere è stato il fuoriclasse James Spithill. Cliccando qui potrete vedere una serie di video interessanti sulla regata.

Questa la classifica del match:
James Spithill - Russell Coutts: 14-3

Apparently toying with a field of less than super competition makes you the greatest race horse that's ever lived!  Somebody pinch me.  I thought I was living in a world where there were plenty of "good" race horses, but that "greatness" was reserved for those who have, I don't  know, beaten an actual quality competitor?  My, how quickly we forget.

I know what you guys are thinking. "Kevin, didn't you just call on us last week to throw our support behind Big Brown in the Belmont?"

I did, and now I'm seriously starting to regret having done so.

To be certain, I've nothing against Big Brown the horse.  I think he's a marvelous animal and I stand by my statements that I will not knock him (the horse) for that which he has not faced.  There's nothing he can do about that.

That being said, I don't have to cheer for his ridiculously asinine trainer, Richard Dutrow.

When asked how Big Brown might match up against Curlin, Dutrow's reply to the Thoroughbred Times was:

"Well, I've seen Curlin get beat by a filly -- so that is not impressive to me. I can't imagine there's a filly breathing air that could beat Big Brown."

A couple of thoughts about that, Dickie.  One, you show an absolute lack of class.  Your colt hasn't had to face anything like what Curlin faced in last year's Triple Crown.  Let's not forget that, shall we?  Or do you think that Denis of Cork and Hey Byrn are somehow of Street Sense and Hard Spun's quality?  To suggest that you haven't been impressed with Curlin?  There's not a horse racing fan alive, love him or hate him, that hasn't been absolutely blown away with Curlin.  What's the matter?  Sport not big enough for two stars? 

Secondly, what's with the "filly breathing air" bit?  Is that some sort of knock against Eight Belles?  If so, words can't describe how badly you deserve to be beaten.  To bash the reigning horse of the year for losing a ridiculous race by a neck to a super-filly, and to then go on and take a swipe at all fillies alive - you are beyond pond scum, Mr. Dutrow.

As if that's not bad enough, rather than talking about how wonderful his colt is heading into an almost sure-thing date with destiny as the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years, Dutrow finds the need to bash his main competitor in 2 weeks, Casino Drive. 

"All the Japanese people thought Godzilla was dead. They’re going to find out he’s not dead — he’s here.”

Why hold back, Dickie?  Just go all out and declare that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nothing while you're at it? 

Prior to these shenanigans, we had Dutrow whining like a 5-year-old girl about the way Edgar Prado rode longshot Riley Tucker in the Preakness.  Apparently Edgar was just supposed to let Big Brown win. How dare he not do so? 

Of course, the whole Dutrow (Big Brown) vs. Asmussen (Curlin) drama that the press is eating up was flamed by Dutrow's initial swipe from last Friday's edition of the DRF.  When asked about a possible showdown with Curlin being in the cards, Dutrow responded:

 "that  would be good for racing, it would be good for us, it wouldn't be so good for them."

The first time I read that, I mistakenly thought "them" meant both Curlin and Big Brown, and that "us" meant racing fans.  Oh no, how foolish to expect something that does not lack class to come out of a Dutrow orifice.  "Us" is now understood to have meant Dutrow and Big Brown, while "them" referred to Asmussen and Curlin.

To his credit, Steve Asmussen refused to stoop to Dutrow's level of Jerry Springer-esque antics.  When asked about the comments, Asmussen replied that Dutrow "has laid out three races for his horse (the Belmont, the Travers, and the Breeder's Cup Classic).  Two of them (the Belmont and the Travers) are for 3-year-olds, and the other is on a synthetic surface (the Breeder's Cup Classic), which neither one of us has ever raced on. Pretty daring of him, huh?"

Well said, Steve. I'm not sure I could've restrained myself from unleashing an expletive laced tirade myself if confronted with the comments from this windbag.

Look, let me be clear about this.  I think a match race between Big Brown and Curlin would be incredible for the sport.  In fact, it's probably EXACTLY what the sport needs.  It would be billed as the race of the century, if not more.  The only thing I'd have against it is that one of these magnificent animals would lose.  Somethings are just best left to fantasy, I suppose.  Not to mention the fact that I still believe Dutrow is full of it and his colt won't race a day past the Belmont.  With his foot problems and a $50 million stud deal already lined up, why risk everything just to appease Dutrow's ballooning ego?  Just doesn't seem worth it to me.

It's going to be hard to stomach such a loud mouthed jackass like Dutrow winning the Triple Crown in two weeks.  I'll cheer for Big Brown, but I'll refuse to be congratulatory of Dutrow in any way, shape, or form.  He's like the kid in little league that refuses to shake hands with the other team.  He's the model of what you'd instruct your sons NOT to be like. Quite frankly, it's time the man had to eat some crow for a change.  Nothing brings more hilarity to a situation than the proverbial pride before the fall.  Who wouldn't get great joy of Dutrow doing an impression of "the Emperor Wears No Clothes?"

I'm going to give him one last shot to be a decent human being.  Can the Curlin bashing, Dickie, and be respectful of the defending Horse of the Year, else you just may wind up having to remember the old saying "be careful what you wish for." For just 2 months ago we watched the top older horses in the world want absolutely no part of Curlin in the Dubai World Cup.  Yeah, I'd say Curlin was facing a bit  more than Stevil and Tale of Ekati there.

We already know what Curlin can do when he has to look a foe in the eye in the stretch.  Can anyone say the same about your ginger-footed "champion" (assuming he prevails at Belmont)? I think many of us are hoping that he comes out of the Belmont sound and without injury first and foremost.  Perhaps you'd be wise to do the same and focus on your colt's feet rather than running your mouth about Curlin? 

Somehow I don't think what this sport needs right now is a pompous, blabber-mouthed trainer being on center stage and giving the entire world  a lesson in how to be totally classless about your profession.  I've got no problem with you believing in your colt.  You should believe in him.  He is likely the only horse in the world that could give Curlin a run for his money.  There is, however, a fine line between confidence and being despicably cocky.  Consider for a moment that right now the entire world is watching, and then think for a second before you open your mouth again.  

 "Speak softly, and carry a big stick." 

Sources:

• http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-briefing28-2008may28,0,3681675.story
• http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2008/05/27/sports/sports02.txt

The 6th edition of the Marseille International Match Race (MIMR) just finished in Marseille France. Organized by the Yachting club de la Pointe Rouge (Marseille, France), it attracted the top sailors in the world of sailboat racing.

1. RICHARD Mathieu Francia
2. CIAN Paolo Italia
3. COL Sebastien Francia

 Due to scratches, Communicator and Ode to Roy will ding dong it out for 7 furlongs.

Un articolo promozionale personalizzato riesce ad infondere con grande efficacia il proprio messaggio in ogni occasione: fiere, congressi, manifestazioni, apertura punti vendita, campagne di fidelizzazione…. In altre parole, l’oggetto promozionale è sicuramente uno dei più potenti mezzi di comunicazione tra un'azienda e i propri partner. Sailorado ti offre una vasta gamma di articoli del comparto nautico, che si caratterizzano per il prestigio, la raffinatezza e lo stile. Quando comunicare con distinzione diventa il punto di forza della campagna marketing di un'azienda, Sailorado è al tuo fianco per una scelta che caratterizza il tuo status. I processi di personalizzazione, anche i più complessi, permettono di non avere limiti, qualunque materiale si scelga per la personalizzazione dei propri oggetti promozionali
È il plus Sailorado: dal controllo della qualità dei prodotti al servizio secondo i più alti standard . Concretamente, questo significa:

- verificare le credenziali dei fornitori

- effettuare approfonditi controlli lungo le diverse fasi del percorso produttivo

- garantire un monitoraggio continuo dei processi di personalizzazione

Un’impostazione rigorosa e metodica consente l’agevole gestione di piccole e grandi campagne. Con una gestione "just-in-time" Sailorado è in grado di evadere rapidamente qualsiasi ordine d’acquisto su tutto il territorio nazionale.

Clicca qui per andare direttamente alla sezione Promotions

Regatas a vela. En el match race los dos jueces siguen de cerca la regata desde la presalida hasta la finalización y toman decisiones respecto a las penalizaciones en el mismo momento en que se producen las infracciones. Cada uno de los jueces suele ir pendiente de las maniobras de uno de los barcos.

Cualquiera de los dos barcos en competición puede estimar que su adversario ha cometido una infracción de la parte 2º del reglamento de regatas y solicitar a los jueces una penalización en consecuencia, levantando la bandera de solicitud Y.

 Los jueces pueden estimar la solicitud o no, levantando la bandera amarilla o azul correspondiente al barco penalizado en caso de infracción, o la verde en caso de desestimarla.

Según las reglas de regatas, la penalización supone que el barco infractor ha de dar una vuelta completa de 360ª  sobre si mismo, lo que supondrá conceder una ventaja importante al adversario. Sin embargo dicha penalización no tiene porque cumplirse inmediatamente. El barco penalizado puede seguir navegando en regata y cumplir la penalización mas tarde cuando espera sentirse menos perjudicado. Los umpires mantendrán izada la bandera de penalización hasta que se cumpla

Match racing.- penalizaciones

Sin embargo han de cumplirse algunas condiciones:

      -     Se pueden producir infracciones desde el inicio de la presalida

-          No se cumplirán penalizaciones antes de la salida

-          Las penalizaciones han de cumplirse antes de la llegada a la línea de meta

-          Las penalizaciones no pueden hacerse en las proximidades de las balizas

-          El empate en penalizaciones hace que ninguno de ellos deba cumplirlas

-          Un barco con una segunda penalización ha de cumplir una de ellas inmediatamente

-          Una tercera penalización sin cumplir ninguna de las anteriores se señala con bandera negra y supone la descalificación inmediata y la perdida del match y su finalización. Esta situación puede producirse en la presalida cuando no es posible cumplir las penalizaciones anteriores salvo con penalizaciones del adversario .

La penalización en general es preferible cumplirla en el tramo de ceñida ya que se emplea menos tiempo en realizar el giro de 360º que en la empopada con el spy.

Match race penalizacion en la ceñida

Lo ideal es cumplirla cuando la embarcación se encuentra en el lyline del estribor del campo de regatas.

Match race mejor en el lyline de estribor

En la empopada el reglamento exige bajar el spy a un punto por bajo de la botavara en el momento de la trasluchada de la mayor.

match race penalizacion en la empopada

También se puede cumplir con la penalización en empopada en la misma boya de la línea de entrada, virándola y volviendo a entrar con la ventaja de no tener ahora  que izar de nuevo el spy.

matc racing penalizacion en la entrada

 Pero hay situaciones   mas ventajosas aunque mas arriesgadas desde el punto de vista del reglamento de regatas como la que describe la figura a continuación
penalizacion oportunista

Ganadores

Empopada

 El III Trofeo Match Race Puerto Calero, última prueba del circuito nacional de match race se ha celebrado en Lanzarote a principios de diciembre con un seguimiento muy de cerca por la web de j80Lanzarote.

El round robin, completo 66 emparejamientos, tras los cuales han disputado  las semifinales del  III Trofeo Match Race Puerto Calero, Ponce, Weiller,  Tarnacki y Wieser 
El 1 de diciembre tras disputarse semifinales y finales el canario José María Ponce triunfó en la final del III Puerto Calero Match Race  sobre Markus Wieser. 
Campeonato España match race
 

Pzermeck Tarnacki queda en tercer lugar a pesar de obtener una bandera negra en la última manga (?) por no haberse penalizado frente a Manu Weiler, infringiendo el reglamento de regatas

 American match -race

Porto Alegre será el escenario de la regata American match-race Tour que se desarrollara del 30 de noviembre al 02 de diciembre en plena primavera de hemisferio Sur. 

Regata match-race

La regata se disputará bajo la modalidad de match racing y entre los regatistas y umpires de renombre que participarán de la 4º Etapa del Tour destacan Dave Perry, entrenador en la America´s Cup del Victory Challenge,  Daniel Glomb, nº 1 del ranking de match-race en Sudamérica, Nelson Ilha, Umpire Internacional y Ricardo Lobato, Umpire Internacional, que se ocuparan de aplicar el reglamento de regatas de la ISAF, Juan Ignacio Grimaldi, capitán del equipo TAG Heuer y nº 1 del ranking de match-race en Argentina  y Diego García, medallista de plata de la clase J/24 entre otros.

El evento cuenta con el aval de la International Sailing Federation (ISAF)

Celebrados el round robin os resultados de la clasificatoria final se muestran en el cuadro siguiente:
clasificacion final American match race
match race presalidas
match race ver mas información

1.- SEÑALES EN GENERAL

A cada uno de los dos barcos que compiten en un match race se les identifica por llevar una bandera en su popa

Barco que entra en la presalida amurado a babor: bandera azul

Barco que entra en la presalida amurado a estribor: bandera amarilla

Cada uno de los competidores izara su bandera correspondiente cuando solicite una penlizacion para su adversario

Los umpires o árbitros que siguen de cerca la competición en una motora pueden usar determinadas banderas cuando deseen comunicar a los barcos en competición ciertas amonestaciones o instrucciones.

Bandera azul: el barco azul esta penalizado

Bandera amarilla: el barco amarillo esta penalizado

Bandera verde/blanca: no hay penalización

Bandera roja: match nulo

Bandera negra: finalización del match

2.- SEÑALES EN LA PRESALIDA

2.1.-Señal de 10 minutos hasta la salida

El barco de comité inicia el match 10 minutos antes de la salida izando la bandera de atencion y haciendo una señal acustica ( dando un bocinazo)

Indica que se van a iniciar una sucuencia de varias salidas

Bandera codigo F

presalida: bandera de 10 minutos

2.2.- señal de 6 minutos hasta la salida

La bandera “F” se arria 6 minutos antes de la salida

2.3.- señal a 5 minutos hasta la salida

El comite indica con la siguiente señal y con un bocinazo que las salidas se produciran cada 5 minutos

Bandera numeral 1

2.4.- señal de 4 minutos hasta la salida

El comité, 4 minutos antes de la salida, baja el númeral 1 e iza la señal de preparacion y da un bocinazo

Bandera P: preparacion

Hasta ese momento ambos barcos deben navegar fuera del area H de presalida.

A partir de este momento los barcos ya estan en regata y tienen un plazo de 2 minutos para entrar en la zona de presalida de modo que el que no consiga entrar en ese plazo recibe una penalizacion

2.5.- Señal de salida 0 minutos

El comité da un bocinazo y arria la señal de preparacion.Ambos barcos pueden salir.

Al mismo tiempo el comité iza la bandera numeral 1 iniciandose asi el procedimiento de salida ( 5 minutos para la nueva salida) de dos nuevos competidores

match race ver mas información

Las regatas de Match Race consisten en recorridos del tipo barlovento-sotavento, en las que los dos barcos que compiten en cada match, recorren un tramo contra el viento y otro a favor del viento.
Generalmente los barcos competidores han de realizar dos vueltas en este recorrido barlovento-sotavento antes de atravesar la línea de llegada.

Otra de las características del recorrido del match race es el paso de las
boyas dejándolas por estribor , cuando normalmente en las regatas de flota se dejan al contrario por babor El objetivo de esta variación es hacer mas disputada la regata match race, y dar una opción al barco perseguidor al presionar con una situación de estribor al barco lider en ese momento, cuando este tiene que ponerse a babor para tomar la boya de barlovento.
Con respecto a la distancia del recorrido barlovento- sotavento, se suele tener mas en cuenta para establecerla, el tiempo en realizar el recorrido que la propia distancia recorrida, de modo que las dos vueltas que los barcos han de realizar, teniendo en cuenta las condiciones atmosféricas, se completen en una media hora ( lógicamente para ello se tiene en cuenta el numero de barcos inscritos y por tanto el numero de match a realizar)

Por ultimo en lo que se refiere a la longitud de la línea de salida, esta se establece en función de las condiciones atmosféricas y del tipo de barcos en regatas, de modo que no se tarde mas de medio minuto en navegarla de extremo a extremo. Esto contribuye igualmente a dificultar la competicion match race.

match race ver mas información

Since the tour de France a la voile a lot of things happened and I think it’s time to update a bit.

Why is the title about sandwich? Keep reading and you will see.

Right after the tour having alomst every day baguette sandwiches I went to Marseille the beautiful harbor in south of France to the extreme 40 catamarans for some photo shooting, usless to say thet we had baguette sandwiches on the water.

It was the first time I traveled with the TGV, the fast train in France, and I think it’s probably more efficient as the plan, It goes over 300 Km/h…guess what, you get sandwiches on board. Unfortunately I had to leave Marseille the day of strong wind, so no real action pictures.

After Marseille the grade 1 match race in Ravenna the Trofeo Trombini as umpire.It’s every year a high light spending a few days on the Adriatic sea, specially the pasta for lunch on the water cocked on Mr. Trombini’s boat. During this days I got up early one day to enjoy the sunrise on the beach, will do more of those things in the future.

The next event was the match race Europeans in Poland Sopot, have been there already last year as umpire and as expected the organizers did a really outstanding job for this event.We sailed in front of the VIP Hospitality area which is a long pier as long as the up and downwind leg. Any idea what we got for lunch?

This year It looks like I will be over 150 days on the water and I really start to hate sandwiches.

Now I’m back home having salad and vegetable after 10 days in Palma for the copa del rey as tactician on the IMS Thomas Sabo. Was there with a few friends from Zurich eating sandwich for lunch on the boat. We did a 12^th overall in the IMS class where the Spanish crews feel really at home.
The Spanish federation seemed to be so surprised with our result and we got an invitation for the IMS Worlds in September providing us also a boat, if it’s a fast boat we will go.

Palma was hot in many senses and a lot of sun, for sure the next event will be a bit cooler: St. Moritz for the Alinghi Swiss Tour final. There we will need a bit more than shorts and t-shirt and hopefully we don’t get again sandwiches on the water for lunch.

Jürg