News Briefs for August 21
Germans Test New Rocket, GER 89 The first-ever German-built America’s Cup boat is ready for Germany’s first-ever Cup challengers. In mid-August, skipper Jesper Bank and the United Internet Team Germany crew took their first ride on GER 89 in Valencia, Spain. The boat took seven months, 16 designers, and 22 boatbuilders to complete, and, so far, has met all of the expectations set out by United Internet Team Germany technical director Eberhard Magg. “We can be more than satisfied,” said Magg, “Our boat has passed all tests without complications. On the first day we hoisted the main sail and the genoa. For sure we impressed the other teams who are doing their trainings in Valencia right now.” The German team will begin a series of intensive boat tests and optimizations to prepare Germany I for the America’s Cup season, which resumes in April 2007. For the latest United Internet Team Germany news, click here .The Mountains Are No Match For CianIn the swirling winds of the Swiss Alps, Paulo Cian defeated Ed Baird 2-1 in the finals to win the St. Moritz Match Race, the third of 14 stages in the World Match Racing Tour. It was the first World Match Race Tour victory for Cian, who is also skipper of the America’s Cup syndicate, Mascalzone Latino. The 39-year-old Italian credited his crew, Pierluigi Fornelli and Nello Pavoni, for helping him manage the shifty conditions in the touchy Streamline, the 23-foot, two trapeze dinghy in which the regatta was sailed. “My crew did an amazing job calling tactics on a weird lake,” said Cian. “We struggled to understand what you could achieve at the beginning, but improved all week.”Sebastian Col, who won the previous stage in Denmark, placed eighth in St. Moritz, which was good enough to take the lead in the World Match Race Tour standings.For the latest news from the World Match Racing Tour, click here . American Finally Wins Boys’ Division at Laser Radial Youth World ChampionshipsIn Marina Del Rey, Calif., earlier this month, U.S. Sailing Team member Kyle Rogachenko became the first American to win the Gold (boys’) fleet at the Laser Radial Youth World Championships. American Claire Dennis held off Spain’s Susana Romero to win the girls’ division. Rogachenko, who finished eighth at last year’s Laser Radial Youth World Championship in Fortaleza, Brazil, demonstrated a keen ability to maintain focus in the regatta’s light and shifty conditions. “Whoever got the first shift was able to stay in the front,” said the 18-year-old. “[You have to] look for pressure because the shifts will come with the breeze.”For complete results from the Laser Radial Youth World Championship, click here . Home Team Takes Farr 40 New England RegattaSailing on his home turf, Jim Richardson won the Farr 40 New England Regatta held earlier this month at Sail Newport sailing center in Newport, R.I.Richardson and the crew of Barking Mad posted two fourth place finishes on the final day of the three-day event to win by 10 points over Ichi Ban, skippered by Australia’s Matt Allen. Also competing in the regatta were such well-known sailors as Russell Coutts, who called tactics for Mascalzone Latino, Moose McClintock, who called tactics for Temptress, and Mark Reynolds, who called tactics for Le Renard.The Farr 40 Worlds take place in Newport September 6-9.For more about the Farr 40s, click here .
