First time published: 2018Dec28


Sunrise on the Stars
copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Good Morning Alice Chiappori
copyright © photo Alexander PanzeriWe have also a special one: the young local ex French champion of Optimist class (and many good performances in others classes) Alice Chiappori, that back from the university, has jumped on a boat, this time to race, as crew, instead to support the organization or for practice.
So in Italian we say “Pochi ma buoni” (n.d.t.: few but good).


Roberto Benamati and Alberto Ambrosini (ITA-7488)
copyright © photo Alexander PanzeriWeather is fine as you expect in this season here, 5[°C] early in the morning up to 15[°C] when the sun finally rise! The race has started at 07:45UTC with light northerly breeze, small gently waves. First procedure canceled, repeated, good start. The fleet has covered all the bay to reach the first mark, on the second one the battle was clear: all the bigs are on podium position, with Benamati dominant on the finish line. A small crash during the first downwind leg, without damage and injures in the middle of the group.
Starting line
copyright © photo Alexander PanzeriSecond race: the committee has been obliged to change position, the wind has started to disappear, but the Start has been good and the fleet is mostly on the pin.
But the race has been shaken by an unexpected classic sail boat, which has crossed all the field just in front to all fleet (opsss).
Invader
copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri

Benamati has reached and passed the left lay-line and decide to tack, but the French Lacan is just behind and has been obliged to tack and so has called “protest”.
Benamati and Lacan are fighting on the layline
copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri
The field has become a tactical trap to find the right breeze, some try to go far east and falling in a big patch with nearly no wind; who has kept the west-centre zone (the best VMG was with left-tack) of the field has been able to “finish” the race. However the race has been controlled again by the Italian and followed by the others Greats.

BBQ after race
copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri
Another thing has also dominated the race: the change of wind, so the Race Committee has changed the course.
Race Board
copyright © photo Alexander PanzeriThis has generated some missed-understanding in the racers and the R.C. has been obliged to protest 12 boats and finally disqualified them. The only “happy” of this is Benamati, who has been found guilty (ITA-7488: 29=1;1->DSQ=28) and he’s still able to fight for the win! Just needs at least 2 races and others 2 first places.
Tomorrow forecast are not better partly cloudy, but if today was a “cold” start, the next days will be on fire; Fingers crossed …e “FUOCO ALLE POLVERI"

Results tables:  http://bit.ly/2rUIEsS
General, Stage 1: 2 races
FRA-8237 Rohart Xavier + Pulfer (4=2;2)
DEN-8532 Schönherr Jürgen + Gravid (5=4;1)
FRA-7778 Lacan Sandro + Giorgi (12=8;4)

Main Website Event: https://www.nicechristmasregatta.com
Main Galleries Folder 2018: http://bit.ly/2GG8xqA

First time published: 2019Sept30

Moonbeam IV 8 upwind to TUIGA D-3.
copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri


“Che giornata”, last day of the Ré.Ro. has been very energetic.
The weather conditions has been very extreme, and this has made the event one the most difficult for the sailors from beach condition to splash waves, the crews of Marga has reported gusts up to +35[kts] outside, and from the press-boat we could have later proof of this on the way back.
MARGA F-3.
copyright © photo Alexander PanzeriWith this conditions all departures has involved the R.C. boat, fews, like TUIGA D-3, have decided to go forward and start with less wind but more “safety”. The plan choice was the G3 so inside bay racetrack. However with the evolution of the weather the R.C. has been obliged to change and shorter the race.
Unluckily also we have had a difficult day because at the last minute the driver had to change the big R.I.B. to the smaller for a problem, and  with 10 photographers this means less opportunity to move around (also if someone was screaming for waves…).
Nonetheless I must do my compliments to our driver M. for the great (safety) work he made to allowed us to our work. Well Done Black Tenders!!! I’ve been 3 times in for 3 different events and always perfect.

So we cannot say a lot about the race, but after, on the docks, I've could learn that on the far mark there have been many problems and some protest.
Comet crews working to remove the the mast.
copyright © photo Alexander PanzeriComet has broken the second mast, someone has kick the back-side of Lady Trix (she has just made the 110th Anniversary in Monaco, so she was in perfect conditions).

Lady Trix damage detail.
copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri
Always on protest side, Pandora G-9, finally yesterday, could have hearing about the penalty they had for all races (the problem reported by the crew was about the rating of the gennaker that it’s not tri-radial), but they didn't had redrawn for  races.

Team Vanessa I-6636 with Patrizio Bertelli&ie and Torben Grael copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri
At the end the Prize Giving has been a great party

"e tutti gli equipaggi hanno portato il loro rispetto ai vincitori"

(n.d.t.: and all the crews brought their respect to the winners).
Chinook NY-48 and Viola and MARGA F-3 teams.
copyright © photo Alexander PanzeriResolute Salmon US20456 Skipper  copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri
In conclusion, after one year from the lighting of the end of the Panerai we can “fare un bilancio” of the Classic races.
As witness of 2+1 events (2 ex-Panerai+Monaco Classic Week) and having listened about the others, we have goods News:

• All clubs has show the capacity to manage the regattas, even with small (better restricted) budgets
• 90% percents of the boats are still there and their owners too, some are missing but newer arrived
• The public in the sailing-field or not, have interest and passion into the regattas.
• So the Classic regatta are on the earth to remain, they need only a good sponsor to make, again, the series with a Trophy! (n.d.a.: maybe a factory like Mercedes could think about, as BMW, AUDI, and VOLVO have already their places???)

I cannot forget to thanks all people of the organizations to give us the possibility to shoot, to tell (testimony) to the rest of the world the story and beauty of the classic sailing.

Grazie Mille!!!

Main Galleries Folder: http://bit.ly/2swmNYv
Main Folder: http://bit.ly/2mG6OYL
Day 1: http://bit.ly/2lbev8T
Day 2: http://bit.ly/2m9GQN4
Day 4: http://bit.ly/2neeS2Y
Day 5: http://bit.ly/2mrnHGS

Dragon Class

1. ITA-77 BUNKER PRINCE Braslavets Evgenil (17=6;3;1;1;1;1;7;4)
2. POR-85 NEPTUNE Pedro Andrade (28=2;2;6;19;3;5;4;6)
3. RUS-27 ANAPURNA Anatoly Loginov (30=4;1;3;15;17;3;1;3)

Classic

General Stage 4: 3 races last update 2019Sept27

Groupe EPOQUE AURIQUE + 15mIJ

1. NY-48 CHINOOK Andrew bates (5=3;1;1;?)
2. F-3 MARGA Matteo Tacconi (8=2;4;2;?)
3. P-14 OLYMPIAN Fetas Guillaume (11=6;2;3;?)
4. MARIGOLD Ken ROEBUCK (7=1;6)

Groupe EPOQUE AURIQUE - 15mIJ

1. VIOLA Fabien Despres (3=1;1;1;?)
2. ORIOLE Ignacio Eguiagaray (9=3;2;4;?)
3. LADY TRIX Gerard Friess (11=4;5;2;?)
4. K KISMET Richard Matthew (6=2;4)

Groupe BIG BOAT

1. D-3 TUIGA Daniel Pereira (3=1;1;1;?)
2. 2 HALLOWE’EN Inigo Strez (7=2;DPI 3;2;?)
3. 88 MOONBEAM OF FIFE Erwan Noblet (9=3;3;3;?)

Groupe CLASSIC + 16 METRES

1. ITA-17077 IL MORO DI VENEEZIA Massimiliano Ferruzzi (3=2;1;2;?)
2. ENCOUNTER Bart Weauwer (9=6;2;1;?)
3. ESP-1257 YANIRA Valerie Demarotte (9=1;5;3;?)
4. FRANCE 1 Jacques Bureau (6=3;3)

Groupe CLASSIC - 16 METRES

1. I-6636 VANESSA Torben Grael (3=1;1;1;?)
2. FRA6065 SAGITTARIUS Thierry Laffitte (9=DPI 4;2;3;?)
3. PALYNODIE II Henri Ferbus (10=4;4;2;?)
4. FRA-11 MEERBLICK…FUN Otto Pohlmann (7=2;5)

Groupe EPOQUE MARCONI + 15

1. NY-49 ROWDY Tim Goodbody (8=2;DPI 2;4;?) 
2. ARG-66 CIPPINO II Martin Billoch (9=1;5;DPI 3;?)
3. SEVEN SEAS OF PORTO Markus Kemp (13=6;DPI 5;2;?)
4. AUS-77 BLITZEN Kade Jaques (10=7;DPI 3)

Groupe EPOQUE MARCONI - 15

1. 141 FJORD III Germain Frers (5=DPI 2;2;1;?)
2. GER-15 ANNIE SOPHIE Joerg Moesshang (7=4;1;2)
3. FRA-24 FRANCE Guy Reyniers (13=6;3;4;?)

Groupe ONE TON CLASSIC

General Stage 4: 4 races

1. USA-20456 RESOLUTE SALMON Valter Pizzoli(4=1;1;1;1;?)
2. FRA-4869 MARIA GIOVANNA II Jean-pierre Sauvan(9=2;3;2;2;3;?)
3. ITA-4702 OJALA II Michele Frova (12=3;2;3;4;4;’)

Groupe ESPRIT DE TRADITION

1. GBR-2795L FAIRLIE Tom Fischer(3=1;1;1;?)
2. ITA-7636 SANDRA Marco Carbonaro(7=3;2;2;?) 
3. SUI-10 SCHERZO Laurent Schenk (9=2;3;4;?)