Moonbird takes lead in Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2009

11/06/2009

In a very fitting turn of events, Day Two of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta - the Fitzroy Race Day - was won by Moonbird, one of the two Fitzroy-built superyachts competing. Marco Vogele's Gliss came in second on handicap today and Pier Luigi Loro Piana's My Song took third place. Moonbird is also sitting at the top of the overall classification thanks to her second-place in yesterday's Race One. My Song is in second place, just one point behind, and Gliss is in third place overall in this event organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with Boat International Media.

Race Two, a 35 mile course which wound in through the island of the La Maddalena archipelago, was once again accompanied by blue skies, sizzling sunshine and a brisk Mistral wind which kept owners and crews busy and entertained. "We had gusts of up to 31 knots which was just a little bit too much wind for us so we didn't fly the spinnaker" commented the owner of the 39 metre Ganesha. "As a result we probably lost 2 or 3 places but it was still a great day's sailing. I think Porto Cervo is the best place to sail in Europe.

Wally Yachts had another great day with three of their yachts taking the top places in elapsed time for the second day running. Claus Peter Offen's Y3K completed the course in just over two hours and 40 minutes followed by Magic Carpet 2 and Indio. Indio's owner Andrea Recordati, tired but satisfied after today's racing, said, "That was a serious workout but it was fantastic! The weather was perfect for sailing and the course was excellent for the conditions." Rodney Martin, Managing Director of Fitzroy Yachts was pleased with today's race: "I'm really pleased to see a Fitzroy-built, Dubois-designed sloop cross the finish line first and take first place on handicap on the Fitzroy Race Day. The event is really well organized and is a credit to the YCCS and Boat International Media."

Racing started on schedule this morning at 12.05 and the fleet was set a coastal course which took full advantage of the 18 to 20 knots of wind from 295°. The YCCS Race Committee sent the superyacht fleet from the start off Porto Cervo north to round the Isola dei Monaci to port before rounding the southern tip of Caprera island and sailing northward along the coast. The yachts then turned north, passing between the La Maddalena island and the island of Spargi. After rounding the Barettinelli di Fuori islets at the northern end of the archipelago the fleet then headed back south leaving the La Maddalena and Caprera islands to starboard and on to the finish in the Pevero Gulf, just south of Porto Cervo.

Germany's Heiner Weiss, fomer pilot and racing car driver, gave a guest's view from Thomas Bscher's Open Season: "I am a pure sailing amateur and this was my first racing on board of a yacht. It was a wonderful experience, this combination of nature and high technology. And then there is this tension on board when the boats come so close to each other. There is a lot of concentration and small mistakes can have heavy consequences."

After a challenging day's racing, owners and their guests will be able to relax this evening at the Boat International Beach Party to be held at the Romazzino Hotel. Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow, June 12th at 12 midday. The forecast predicts strong westerly winds in the morning which should calm to approximately 15 knots in the afternoon.