Author Archives: Keith

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Progressing to the quarterfinals with a round robin scorecard of 8 wins and 3 losses we defeated Pierre Antoine Morvan 3-2. In the semi-final we defeated Eric Monnin 2-1. This was followed by an epic final against Portugal’s Alvahro Marinho in which we came back from 2-1 down to snatch victory with some amazing races!

After our grade1 win in Chicago we were keen to back up with another solid result. The conditions on Lake Wannsee in Berlin were far different from those in Chicago. The racecourse could change within seconds making your lead extremely difficult to defend.

We began the event with a few hiccups, loosing a couple of straight races early in the regatta. Fortunately we learned  quickly from our mistakes getting back on track against last years winner Bjorn Hansen. This gave us some confidence and kick started a run of solid races for us. We finished the round robin with 8 wins -3 losses, ranking us in 2^nd place overall. Normally the first place from the round robin would choose their opponent and so on down the list, however in Berlin this was not that case. Our opponent for the quarterfinal would be 7^th placed in the round robin Pierre Antoine Morvan, probably one of the tougher opponents we could have chosen.

Morvan and his team were our final opponents in Chicago so we knew they would be out for revenge. This quarter finals series went down to the wire but we managed to come out on top winning 3-2. In the final and deciding race against Morvan we were both neck and neck at the top mark, for the last time. Morvan was right behind us and in a good position to overtake. This was one of the key moments of the regatta and we managed to keep our cool and defend this very narrow lead.

Having finished top after the round robin Eric Monnin of Switzerland decided to choose us for the semi-final. The Swiss team are very familiar with shifty lake sailing so we knew it was going to be a tough fight. We sailed really well in this series winning 2-1. The key was the starts, we managed to win 2 of the starts and although our lead was always under threat from the Swiss team we were able to choose our path around the course. By this point we knew that offense was the best defense and sailing our own race was very important.

We were thrilled to make another Grade 1 final but of course there was still plenty more racing ahead. Conditions were now even lighter than those we had raced in during the semi-finals. Our opponent Alvahro Marinho was sailing very well having defeated two-times winner Bjorn Hansen in the quarters and another previous winner Marcus Weisser in the semi-final.

In the first race we got off the line really well but after a couple small shifts we were neck and neck again. Half way up the first beat the boats came together in a dial down manoeuvre with us on starboard with right of way. There was a big collision, the Portuguese being given the penalty. From here we just had to keep close and despite trailing we closed the gap to just finish ahead whilst Marinho completed his penalty on the start line. Marinho sailed much better in races 2 and 3 and we had a couple of bad starts and also coped a couple of penalties. These penalties were our first for the regatta so we knew it was because of the pressure Marinho was putting on us. At this point we were on the brink of defeat.

Our start to race 4 was a disaster. Unfortunately conditions didn’t assist our port entry to the start area and we were on the back foot for the whole 4minute of pre-start time. We also were given another penalty for failing to keep clear when we were the windward boat. We came off the start line 30 meters behind with a penalty against us. Having seen how our lead could be eaten away in previous races we knew it wasn’t over. On the first down-wind leg we did a great job and snatched the lead. We fought hard up the second upwind leg to hold onto this lead whilst still trying to look for an opportunity to take our penalty turn.  We were only 1 meter ahead at the top mark not enough distance to compete a penalty turn. Our only option was to slow up and try to trap them into making a mistake, a very low percentage move in match racing. We did however draw on past experience here and managed to pull off an amazing move. We sailed Marinho down the left side of the course whilst keeping our starboard right of way advantage with both boats moving very slowly in 2-3 knots of winds. We had a couple of chances to take our penalty but didn’t quite get it right in our first luffing attempts but kept our speed and position enabling us to continue sailing Marinho off the course and away from the finish. Then our opportunity came and whilst Marinho was slow and in less wind we gybed towards the finish and picked up some good wind quickly establishing a 50 meter lead. We came in fast to the finish and completing our penalty turn around the finish line to snatch an incredible win.

From this point we had the momentum. We nailed the last start and managed to keep the lead but it wasn’t over yet. Marinho found some wind on the final up wind leg putting him right on our stern at the final top mark. We continued to sail offensively and gybed away from our opponent in what turned out to be a massive split between the boats. We managed to find a little more wind and a better angle into the finish line, taking the win by 20 meters. This was a massive win for the team our second grade 1 win in a row against a very tough field in very difficult sailing conditions.

Final Standings:

It was great to be back in Chicago again, this time for the ISAF grade 1 Chicago Cup.  The event was sailed in the heart of the Chicago CBD at the City’s Navy Pier on Lake Michigan.

We began the regatta finishing the round robin with 8 wins 3 losses, a solid score but having to work hard for the wins. The conditions inside Navy Pier Harbour were extremely tricky and it took us some time to get to grips with sailing in the area. Fortunately sailing in the Tom 28 boats we always felt comfortable and fast which certainly helped.  Our best win of the round came against world number 5 Pierre Antoine Morvan from France, a race which we lead until the last top mark rounding. At this point Morvan did a nice job overtaking but we put together a fast downwind finish to regain the lead and snatch the win.

Progressing to the quarterfinals we decided to pick Reuben Corbett from New Zealand. This was not as easy decision as all of the teams were highly ranked. Conditions for the quarters were very strong with Chicago living up to its reputation as the windy city. We did a really nice job in the quarters winning 3-0 against Corbett. We sailed fast and smooth building up a good feeling for our semi-final showdown against Phil Robertson (Waka Racing).

Going into the semi-final, confidence was high. Conditions were still very strong but this provided some close races and plenty of entertainment. We had four races against the kiwis with all 4 starts almost a carbon copy of each other. This worked in our favour as we took out the semifinals 3-1. Our only loss came in race 2; we lead the whole race with the kiwis hot on our heels. On the final down wind we sailed them past the finish line to hold onto our lead. Unfortunately as we gybed to the finish line with the spinnaker still up we lost control, both boats broaching out. This wasn’t such a major problem until we hit the finish line mark and were given a penalty, ending the race for us. All of this action just meters from Navy Pier! Despite this disappointment, we re-grouped and put together 2 more solid wins to progress to the final.

Our opponent for the final Morvan of France was a tough competitor, in form having won the last grade 1 event in Poland and finishing 2^nd at the St Moritz Match Race.

After taking out race 1 we were given a pre-start penalty in the second race. Taking the lead off the start line helped, as we pushed hard to gain a winning margin, in hope of completing our penalty later in the race. Fortunately this went to plan and we managed to complete our penalty on the finish line and finish just ahead of the French team.

At this point we only needed one more win to take out the event but the French had not given up. They came from behind in race 3 after we were given an immediate penalty for failing to give the French room to round the top mark. This kept the final alive however we were determined to finish it off. Race 4 was very close as we battled it out for control up the first windward beat. Would put fait into our own hands at the top of the course allowing the French to gain the starboard advantage at the top of the course, a potentially dangerous position however we managed to squeeze around their bow at the top mark. From here we sailed a great down wind leg and held our lead to set up a comfortable final leg sailing downwind at high speed to the finish. It was great to celebrate our first grade 1 win spraying champagne into the crown and accepting the Chicago Cup.

To watch video highlight from the final day visit our gallery section!

Today we finished the Internationaux de France Match Race 2011 in Pornichet, France on the Atlantic coast. It was a tough regatta, long days and plenty of racing. The regatta was sailed in the J80 yachts which we really enjoy and there is a real focus at this event on good fair racing on open water.

We sailed a very competitive round robin series finishing with a score of 7 wins 4 losses. Conditions throughout the round robin were quite light making for some good tactical racing. We had good speed and managed to sail well with only a few major mistakes. This score card put us in 6th place after the round robin. Unfortunately we missed the top four on count back meaning we had to sail further races to obtain a position in the quarter finals. We were paired against Simone Ferrarese of Itlay in this sail off, the Italians actually finished 11th in the round robin but because of this format got another chance. So with more to loose than our competitor we took on the Italian team in light and shifty conditions. We did well to keep it together and prevailed 2-1 in trying conditions coming from behind twice and out sailing our competitor.

Progressing to the quarter-final stage we came up against local sailor Francais Morvan. The stronger wind conditions we hoped for still hadn’t arrived so it would be more light wind sailing in the quarter finals. We didn’t begin the quarter finals well loosing both of the opening matches putting us in a must win situation for the final races. We made some big improvements with our starts and despite coming off the line even or behind we managed to grind out 2 wins to level the score. We did some great work in both of these races pulling off some really nice overtaking moves and gaining a penalty against our opponent on one occasion. It call came down to the last race and with the momentum on our side we were confident. Morvan again managed a nice start and won the favoured right side of the course. We thought we were quicker off the line but when we met it was even, Morvan then did a nice job of protecting the right side. Despite being quicker we couldn’t pull off a passing moving, Morvan sailed a solid race and learnt from his mistakes from the previous races. We were pretty upset with loosing 3-2 especially after the comeback from 0-2 down. In de-brief we realised we didn’t put enough enphasis on winning the right side and this was the game in the end.

Despite the disappointment we continued to push hard and defeated both the New Zealand teams Will Tiller and Reuben Corbett in the 5-8th place races to secure 5th, another solid result but still not what we are looking for. We are sailing at a really high level so just have to take the opportunity when it comes, which can’t be far away!!!

We are proud to announce Hardstaff AB as our title sponsor for Match Cup Sweden 2011. This is a exciting sponsorship between Hardstaff and Black Swan Racing will will be a major asset to the team prior, during and after the event.

The Hardstaff Group origins date back to 1861 when Hardstaff Haulage was founded in Nottingham by John Hardstaff.   The parent company now known as T. Baden Hardstaff Limited is still a transport company, and this is why we fully understand the transport industry and its demands.  The company expanded to form the Hardstaff Group by providing forward thinking and innovative solutions, which remains our philosophy today.  By operating road transport vehicles we are fully aware of their impact on the climate and environmental initiatives which reduce vehicle pollutants have always been on our agenda.

Our research and development of Methane Diesel Technology is a typical example of this. The electronic system reduces the amount of diesel injected into the cylinder of a diesel engine and replaces it with upgraded Biogas, significantly reducing the environmental impact. With similar drivability to that of a diesel engine this technology enables substitution rates of up to 70% of Diesel to Biogas, dependent upon duty cycle.  The main advantages of the system are the benefits for the environment by cutting CO2 emissions by up to 40% and the cost efficiencies for the end-user.

Our aim is to provide the best environmental combustion technology with a low climate impact on the environment. To keep the momentum, one of our key words is teamwork. With that in mind we are proud to support The Black Swan Racing Team in the Match Cup Sweden 2011. Strong teamwork and climate neutral power is what we represent and also what we have in common with the team of Black Swan Racing.

Mats Landin

General Manager

Hardstaff AB