It’s a Family Affair in St Tropez….

RUS 34 “Even Better” helmed by Vasily Senatorov wins Race 1 of the Dragon Saint Tropez.

It certainly was a “Family Affair” here in sunny St Tropez yesterday as our current IDA Vice Chairman Vasily Senatorov won race 1 and then his brother Mikhail helming his RUS 31 “Convergence” won race 2!  So a great start for these two top Dragon Sailors so often seen on the International Circuit.

Here we see the 31 boats starting in a light westerly wind in the Gulf of St Tropez.

At the start of race 1 most of the fleet held on to their starboard tack as the wind initially went right, although those boats who tacked early towards the shore of Saint Maxime had an even better lift at the top of the beat. As the race progressed RUS 34 pulled further ahead with GBR 761 “Jerboa” finishing 2nd and EST 17 “Abb Fun” helmed by Mihkel Kosk in 3rd place…

GBR 761 “Jerboa” finishing 2nd in race 1. Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, Mark Hart & Phillip Catmur.

In race 2 it was RUS 31 “Convergence” helmed by Mikhail Senatorov, who made the best of a shifting breeze that gradually moved further right as the day progressed. In the photo below RUS 31 just rounds the port hand gate ahead.

RUS 31 “Convergence” wins race 2 of the Dragon Saint Tropez 2015 Regatta…..

Finishing in 2nd place behind RUS 31, was RUS 35 “Sunflower” helmed by Victor Fogelson, who was OCS in race 1, so needed a good score in race 2. Following behind in 3rd place was POR 63 “Seven Seas” helmed by Rui Silva.

However, in the “provisional” overall standings it looks as though RUS 34 leads (subject to protest) in 2nd place is GBR 789 “Bear” helmed by Mike Budd and 3rd overall is SUI 315 “Hazbin” owned by Adrian Friend and helmed by Eddie Warden-Owen.

Three more races are scheduled for today, so keep watching for further updates….

Higher, Faster, Longer………….     Stavros.  (GBR 789).