WINNERS…ITA 54 Jean-Sebastian Ponce, Giuseppe Duca (Helm) and Vittorio Zaoli..
It was a very good last day in St Tropez for the 32 boat fleet as a “Sea-breeze” wind eventually arrive in time for the PRO to squeeze in one final race before the cut-off time of a 2pm start. Looking up the course the pressure looked equal on both sides, however those sailors that elected to start at the committee boat and go “hard” right proved the winners. GBR 633 Ron James with “North Sails” tactician Nigel Young, were quick out of the blocks and were first to the right corner, this gave them an easy victory and this beautiful “Borresen” Cold Moulded Dragon moved up to 8th overall..
Meanwhile the two overnight leaders ITA 54 and GBR 761 were caught out over on the left and in the end both Giuseppe and Gavia recorded one of their worst scores so the Overall Championship went to the Italian Team on count-back.. Yes fellow sailors after a total of nine races & two discards it came down to equal points, but the Italian Team had more 1st places…
Runner’s Up, Team “Jerboa” GBR 761 Mark Hart, Nick Hartshorn & Gavia Wilkinson-Cox.
I was speaking to Mark Hart the tactician on Gavia’s boat and he said “Although we were in less pressure on the left side of the course, it still looked ok until the final tack. We obviously had our eyes on the Italian boat and for a moment it look like we could just sneak into a winning position. However, we were a little unlucky on the second beat and it was not to be”. Never the less Mark, you and Team Jerboa have sailed a brilliant regatta, well done my friend.
In 3rd place overall were FRA 412 “Irina” Pierric Bourbin, Morvan Bourbin & Marc Bouet.
In 3rd place overall was FRA 412 owned and crewed by Morvan & Pierric Bourbin and helmed by French “Legend” Marc Bouet. This is a new team into the Dragon Class and have already shown they will be one of the favourites for the Worlds next year in La Rochelle. Well done.
In closing I would like to thank the SNST and all it’s members and volunteers for putting on an excellent regatta. This was a very successful 11th “Edition” of the Dragon St Tropez and I’m sure many sailors are already looking forward to next years event. With the weather we have enjoyed this week St Tropez showed herself at her very best, sailing in short’s and T shirts and completing a 9 race series, what else would a Dragon Sailor ask for…..
Higher, Faster, Longer………………. Stavros. (USA 310).