S.R.: 12mJI World Championship 2024 - Questo campionato non sa da farsi???

First time published: 2024 Jun 21

S.R.: Questo campionato non sa da farsi???

Crusader K24 and KIWI MAGIC KZ7. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Some minutes before midnight in the camping with a calm like that before storm, which could come by the untrustworthy forecast models those are plaguing since Voiles d’Antibes, or maybe finally it’s already gone, however stars are still not visibile. The soundtrack swing between Vangelis, Duran Duran, Echosmith, and Bach…

The title of course recall the threat from “I Promessi sposi” but slowly the championship is taking its space.

It’s absolutely the coldest end of spring I ever seen on the coast of PACA for 44 years, cloudy, chilly (still not beach) and wind, a lot of wind!

Finally I had the opportunity to be in the worldwide establish natural wind tunnel of the Sailing world, “lo specchio d’acqua” between Hyeres and Porquerolles island, so I was expecting to be into wind, but no-one was expecting to delete two days of races due to too much wind; and it was started well, Monday the practice race was paradisiacal.

In front: Kookaburra II KA12, behind: France F1, French Kiss F7,KIWI MAGIC KZ7.

copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Day One: immediately postponed and AP Flag over A and was sunny, wind above 28[kts].

AP Flag over A. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Day two: uhmmm maybe it could be good, it’s strange the haze that is already filtering the light of sun, but it could be great for our images: beautiful golden diffused lights, but not, time to cross the “channel” with one of the most expensive ferry (24€ a/r and the timetable is also a night mare, from 07:30 to 19:00, that’s all!) and it was already overcast with wind growing and growing. However the plan is to get out and start at 10:00L.

French Kiss F7, Kookaburra III KA15, KIWI MAGIC KZ7, Kookaburra II KA12 - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

On the press R.I.B. we have a guest, the colleague B. of the L’Equipe (the French sport newspaper) who did a touch and go for his next article (nooo I’ll not tell you about). Time to make a race and “groppo” with strong rafale, short showers arrives, that R.C. had sent all at the port.

This, even if one by one entrance, has made some extra white hairs on our heads to protect the 14 ladies and moor them safely, they are beautiful like J Class but a cobra would be more handy.

Day three, yesterday/today: I woke up at the crazy 05:00 to ride my bike for the 6.5km hilly road (yeah 45m of elevation and hundred of holes and new patches of asphalt) to catch the first ferry, but while preparing I decided to check the road, and it was already wet, wet and sandy (yeahh my car after 3 weeks of this kind of rain looks like a Dakar participant) and with a “cycle-cross” wheels, I decided to don’t take the risk of slide, and I have given forfait; good decision because between that time and at least 8 o’clock the storm arrived, later during the day the weather have improved, but still cloudy and the wind here on mainland was variable. However as reports from colleagues, say they have flown 3 races, and it’s good for the championship and sailors.

It’ really a pity that only Monday we could catch the beautiful panorama with its essences of Macchia Mediterranea over this patchwork of water sapphire and aquamarine.

Fort du Pradeau. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Back to the sportive side, since I met him, I never seen a so “confident” Torben on the performance as for the boat as the crew, and the results speak alone, doing the practice race, Kookaburra II KA-12 was in a deadly sandwich between French Kiss F-7 downwind and KIWI Magic KZ-7 upwind; Time to ask me why Torben was still there, that they tack right. How I don’t know, but they did it (the image it’s enough).

Kookaburra II KA12 tack to right passing behind KIWI MAGIC KZ7. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Now they are on the same right side of the field as the daughter Kookaburra III KA-15, which tack immediately on the departure. When back at the docks, one of the Italian sailor of the green lady has been lapidario “they are fast”! Don’t forget, the green one has “wings” on the keel, so it should perform better than the Celeste mother.

A very good note is the performance of French Kiss F-7, that if you remember last time in Antibes had been destroyed by KIW Magic. She has a growing trend already in the last Les Voiles de St. Tropez, now they are stronger as the maöri war machine.

Flica II K-14 is still affected by the trimming of the new mast (good for us, so we can freeze his crew climb on the mast) and the crew needs to reach the right “armonia”.

Flica II K-14. - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Sad to see IKRA K-3 moored in perfect condition and not sailing, as she is on the market now.

Nini Anker N-15 with all that naked painted wood fibres make me fall in love it.

Nini Anker N-15 - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Now it’s time to go to bed and in about 3.5 hours get up and hope for finally a good sunny day of sailing in Porquerolles and pay tribute to all members of the club for theirs work to organise the event!

Results after 4 races. - credits 12m Class and yacht Club Porquerolles.

Sources:

Images, Main Gallery Folder: https://tinyurl.com/5dssn5v7

Results: https://tinyurl.com/2hn8m6zt

Website event: https://tinyurl.com/ywmxmkmd