S.R.: La LUNGA!!! Long Race Update: new entries, wild cards, and the shape of the fleet
Long Race Update: new entries, wild cards, and the shape of the fleet
The inshore is over. The numbers have been crunched, the ratings have been weighed, and the lessons have been learned. Now it's time to point the bow towards Giraglia and see who has the nerve to match the navigation.
The wind will shift, the breeze will drop, and the night will test every crew. Some will read the sky better. Some will hold their course when others chase shadows. And when the sun comes up over the Ligurian coast, we'll know who chose the right side of the channel.
This is not a coastal race. This is the long one. There are no second chances, no discards, no comeback races tomorrow. You either make the right call when it matters, or you spend the rest of the day watching the boats that did.
So here's what the data tells us — and what the wind might have in store.
Wild cards: the new entries to watch
| Class | Boat | Rating | Why dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxi A | MAGIC CARPET E (GBR1001R) – Verdier 100 | 1.944 | Highest rating in the fleet. Flies in wind >12 kts, parks if it drops. Extreme wild card. |
| Maxi A | BIANCA II (ITA-80001) – Grand Soleil 80 | 1.389 | Much lower rating than V or Galateia. In light air, she's the one to beat. |
| Maxi A | ARCA SGR (AUS-10) – Don Jones 100 | 1.901 | Same as Magic Carpet: flies in wind, suffers in calms. |
| Maxi A | STAR SAPPHIRE (57) – Giles/Beltrami | 1.066 | Lowest rating, but a 1957 design. Could surprise in light air, but not a win contender. |
| IRC 2 | FASTNET (ITA-17378) – Sun Fast 3600 | 1.021 | Light boat, low rating. Can slip into the top 5 if the breeze drops. |
| ORC 1 | SHANTI (ITA-18091) – Solaris 58 (ORC_0) | 1.3724 | Higher rating than Thetis. A podium threat if wind rises above 10 knots. |
| ORC 1 | BLACK PEKOE 3 (ITA-18195) – Grand Soleil 52 | 1.3196 | Same as Shanti. Wild card for the podium. |
Class by class: favourites, chasers, wild cards
Maxi A
Favourite: V (CAY-111) – Wally Cento, rating 1.798, 16 pts (3,5,1,1,6). Won the inshore series. Needs wind above 10 knots to convert her rating.
Chasers: JETHOU (rating 1.657, 18 pts), MY SONG (rating 1.700, 20 pts).
Wild cards: BIANCA II (light air specialist), MAGIC CARPET E and ARCA SGR (wind seekers).
Maxi B
Favourite: ATALANTA II (ITA-204) – Farr/Felci 70, rating 1.396, 5 pts (1,1,1,1,1). Perfect. Untouchable.
Chasers: CIPPA LIPPA X (14 pts), WALLYNO (16 pts).
Wild card: FINCANTIERI – VOR 60. Only one race, but a promising second place.
IRC 1
Favourite: DJANGO WR (GBR-51X) – Wallyrocket 51, rating 1.410, 6 pts (1,2,1,2). Beat Lorina on corrected time.
Chasers: SPIRIT OF LORINA (rating 1.398, 10 pts), LISA R (rating 1.293, 21 pts).
Note: Lorina has the lower rating. In light air, she becomes the favourite.
IRC 2
Favourite: FLYING DOLPHIN (NED-7935) – Dufour 40, rating 1.034, 7 pts (1,4,1,1). Consistent, low rating.
Chasers: INVICTUS (13 pts), SELMA RACING (22 pts).
Wild card: FASTNET – Sun Fast 3600, rating 1.021. Light boat, low rating. Top 5 potential.
ORC 1
Favourite: THETIS (ITA-2945) – Swan 45, rating 1.2686, 8 pts (3,1,3,1). Experienced, consistent.
Chasers: CRABX (rating 1.2137, 11 pts), L'IMMENS (rating 1.1460, 21 pts).
Wild cards: SHANTI and BLACK PEKOE 3 – both with higher ratings. Podium threats if the wind rises above 10 knots.
ORC 2
Favourites: FREMITO D'ARJA (ITA-109) – J-109, rating 1.1058, 9 pts (1,1,6,1) and CHESTRESS (ITA-14339) – J-109, rating 1.1029, 9 pts (2,2,3,2). Two J-109s, separated by a tie-break.
Chaser: SALVORA (15 pts).
Now it's down to the sea, the sky, and the choices made in the dark. May the breeze hold, and the ratings be kind.
Comments
Post a Comment