Match Racing in Cascais…

Sailing Team “Provezza” are one of 4 teams with 3 out of 3 Wins after day 1 in Cascais.

10 teams from 7 different Nations are doing battle in Cascais to see who will win the 6th Stavros Match Race event in 2017. Perfect sunny conditions of 25 degrees and a Northerly 12 to 14 kts  wind the offered the Dragon Sailors a wonderful opportunity to sharpen up their boat handling skills as they battle against their opponents on a one to one basis… the ultimate challenge.

Principle “Umpire” Miguel Allen talks through the new Match Race “Rules” before racing.

Pieter Heerema returns to the Dragons after his successful “Vendee’ Globe experience.

The 4 teams all with 3 out of 3 wins are former America’s Cup helmsman Andy Beadsworth, Princess Sofia winner Patrick de Barros, 2011 Match Race Champion Henrique Anjos and the 2K Venice Team Race Champion Dmitry Samokhin. These 4 top sailors showed great skill and determination yesterday but will be up against each other today as the 15 flight “Round Robin” is completed.

Bruce Hebbert (one of the 6 experienced Umpires) awards a penalty during pre-start.

It will be interesting to see who else from the chasing pack steps up to the plate today as each team will race another 6 races before the seeding for the semi-finals will take place.

Dmitry Samokhin takes “control” of Mihkel Kosk during a pre-start…..

At 6pm the 10 teams returned to the Club Naval moorings to enjoy the traditional “Happy Hours” sponsored by Sailing Team Provezza”.  For some reason Petticrows owner Timothy Tavinor decided I should join him on the dance floor as the “Boys” from the Irish Bar O’Luains sang “It’s a Nightmare, nothing but a Nightmare”…. Tim said he’d had too much sun, I blame the Vodka…..

Higher, Faster, Longer……………    Stavros.