S.R.: 45° RéRo 2023 Day 1: Italian Challenger rule!!!

First time published: 2023Sept26

NYALA US-12, Kiwi Magic KZ-7, VIM US-15 upwind crossing. - The broken part. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Ré.Ro.: Italian Challenger rule!!!

Main Website Event: https://www.regatesroyales.net/ race info: https://bit.ly/3PQLg6F 

Main Galleries Folder: https://bit.ly/3m10wQ1 

Main Galleries Folder 2023: https://bit.ly/3ZtFACY 

Stage 1: https://bit.ly/3ZCTHpG 

Che giornata… Saranno pochi ma sono davvero buoni!!! (n.d.t.: What a day… Maybe they are few but they are really good!!!).

The fire of the RéRo has been lighted by the 12mIR Class on the Delta field (the gulf of Mandelieu-la Napoule) under the astonishing red rocks of the Esterel, the wind for the first race from 170° less then 10kts; second race from 190° about 10kts and robust for the first lap, but later dropped below 6-7 or less; no waves, sunny crisp sky.

Me, back after 12 months from the last time of 4 ribs broken…

The class is here to anticipate the next championship, it’s a pity they are “just” 8 (I’m referring to the rest of the classic and Dragon fleets…) but the quality of the race is the TOP!

The 12mIR faida (n.d.t.: feud) has started in June between French Kiss F-7 and Kiwi Magic KZ-7 in Antibes and the result was lapidario (n.d.t.: lapidary) if you need a refresh read here: https://bit.ly/3qm2nDa .

Today the challenge has been between Italy and France: 

first race: France I F-1 

second race: French Kiss F-7 

vs 

the Italian NYALA, US-12 for both.

3 boats of 3 different philosophy generations of design, the 2 French from LVC while the Italian with a crew from 2 generations of 2 LVC.

I made short, for the others there were no story… even the Kiwi Magic KZ-7 was out of the game.

Torben Grael and Mauro Pelaschiar in the cockpit. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Why I’m so excited about the Italian boat? Easy: the boat is owned by the longest AC challenger Mr. Bertelli (Luna Rossa) and the crew has: Torben Grael (with his son Marco) and Mauro Pelaschiar (the first Italian helmsman at LVC on Azzurra, also my first skipper ever, yeah I’ve been very lucky) and the rest of the crews from Vanessa and SCUD.

First Departure NYALA US-12 behind. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

I knew that NYALA US-12 was looking for a incredible departure from the Pin, but this time the fleet didn’t leave space as the last time (rif.: https://bit.ly/2mfFUXK)and she has to start left tack downwind to the others; FRANCE I F-1, I don’t know if was planned or when they have seen US-12, after a good start on the R.C. boat has tack too and the duo was alone straight to the Pointe de l’Aiguille and far away from the rest of the fleet (and us).

FRANCE I F-1 and NYALA US-12 on the layline from the red rocks. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

After the upwind mark the Bleu has tried to cover US-12 but nothing to do, the Italian were faster and at the end there were more than 5 length.

Second Departure, Kiwi Magic KZ-7 false start. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Second departure, this time it’s French Kiss F-7 to start very well on the R.C. and a.s.a.p. she tack left and try to run away, the Italians has to tack in the middle of the fleet and in someway they are in the second position, at the downwind gate, they decided tactically to pass with left tack and gybing on the eastern mark, while the Kiss on right tack pass in front gybing on the western mark. The result? The US-12 has been able to find the last “pressure” and have gained lengths upwind to the French boat that at the tack for the layline the race was over!

On the back some “scaramuccie” (n.d.t.: skirmishes) between Northern Light US-14 and VIM US-15 with FRANCE I was trying to close the gap. KIWI Magic KZ-7 has tried many alternative route but they didn’t pay so much.

Kiwi Magic KZ-7 and South Australia KA-8. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

The second field has been the Dragon Class but we didn’t followed them and when we went there the wind was Very light, two races and they have closed the day.

Dragon Class downwind - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Now the problem is to understand if the two anticyclone (the one on Moscow and the other on the Azores) will leave us play with a good breeze (but forecast are really terrible on all models)

p.s.: and don’t forget, the battle will be also on the grass in these two weeks, France is hosting the Rugby World Cup: 29th Sept ITA vs NZ and 6th October FRA vs ITA (France has already won vs All Black 27-17)

Results tables:

General Stage 1: 2 races

12mIR Class: https://bit.ly/46redeO 

1. NYALA US-12 Patrizio Bertelli (2=1,1)
2. French Kiss F-7 Yann Delplace (7=5;2)
3. VIM US-15 Patrick Howaldt (7=4;3)

Dragon Class: https://bit.ly/3PRKK8F

1. Tsuica FRA-409 Gérard Blanc (2=1,1)
2. Dragondine ITA-7 Marco Andrea Gerbaudo (5=2;3)
3. Dawn NED-409 Bram de Wilde (7=5;2)

Main Website Event: https://www.regatesroyales.net/ race info: https://bit.ly/3PQLg6F 

Main Galleries Folder: https://bit.ly/3m10wQ1 

Main Galleries Folder 2023: https://bit.ly/3ZtFACY 

Stage 1: https://bit.ly/3ZCTHpG