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An 11th Edition That Promises To Be Vigorous!
After a day dedicated to preparing boats, confirming registrations, and training, the 51 crews representing the 11 nations participating in the 11th edition of St.Barth Cata Cup are ready to set sail. In fact as of Thursday, at 10am, they will attack the first race of the challenge. A challenge that promises to be especially vigorous, with winds coming from the east at 20 to 25 knots—at least for the first two days of the competition. Enough to guarantee some stylistic fireworks as well as a great show put on by the grand champions such as the Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis, current world champions back to defend their Cata Cup title, and at least 10 other duos who would like to give them a run for their money and take first place. And yes, this year once again, the level of the competition is very high, and the expected high winds could create some unexpected surprises.
“This 11the edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup looks promising on all levels, even if it will be extremely challenging. More than 20 knots are predicted for tomorrow and Friday. It should be a little lighter over the weekend, but the 2018 edition promises to be vigorous overall,” assures Thierry Berry, the new president of St.Barth Multihulls, the association that organizes the event. He is pleased to welcome no less than 51 teams representing 11 countries, to “Pelican Beach” in Saint Jean for four days of high-level competition. “Something new this year, the competitors will benefit from an extra half day of racing, since the first races are planned for tomorrow at 10am, rather than 2pm in past years,” adds Thierry, who envisions a short course of about 10 miles in the bay of Saint Jean to start the battles. “This will allow the racers to warm up, and as organizers we can size up the fleet as there are so many amateur teams, which makes us very happy,” adds the Saint Barth native, very aware that the robust conditions predicted risk to provoke some off-course maneuvers and unexpected performances.
Morgan LAGRAVIERE, Noe DELPECH © Michael Gramm
Avoid breakage
“When the wind is hard, as will be the case, it is important to sail carefully and safely to avoid breakage of equipment or injure the guys themselves,” notes the highly seasoned sailor Emmanuel Boulogne, winner of the first St.Barth Cata Cup in 2008, and has not missed a single edition since. “Clearly things risk to be a little rock and roll, and I am very happy, in this context, to be sailing with Vincent (his brother), as he races with eight cylinders and in this kind of wind that’s definitely an advantage,” adds the director of Boulogne Conception Marine, who still has memories of the 2014 edition, which also saw hard weather conditions. “I especially remember the last race that took as to Public, and during which we had 30 knots of wind in the passage between Bonhomme and Colombier. That was a little rock and roll and I imagine we will find the same type of situation again this week,” points out Emmanuel, who is not looking forward to high surf and intersecting winds. “That is never very pleasant for our boats, and can even be dangerous, but clearing that will add some spice to the races, and mostly that will be a radical change from the conditions that we encountered during the Worlds last month in Sarasota, Florida,” says the sailor who had to make due with light breezes (between 3 and 7 knots) and who is happy to race once more against some of the same international F18 teams, including the Greek duo Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis, current world champions, who hope to defend their title in Saint Barth, no matter what the conditions. “Today they are the ones who sail the most and have the best technique. They are good and they are heavy. In short, they have the physique to do battle, and it will certainly be interesting to compete with them,” notes Emmanuel Boulogne.
Patrick DEMESMAEKER, Olivier GAGLIANI © Michael Gramm
Have fun, in spite of the conditions
This is the sentiment of Pierre Le Clainche, 1st in 2016 and 5th in 2017 with his acolyte Antoine Joubert. “It’s really great that the St.Barth Cata Cup attracts the best in the world. Other than the Greeks, there are another ten teams that could also go for the victory this year. Actually, the Boulogne brothers, Mitch Booth, Gurvan Bontemps, Erik Maris, Enrique Figueroa, or Morgan Lagravière, to make just a few, are certainly top contenders. It promises to be really great,” assures Le Clainche, who knows that the hard weather conditions on the horizon risk provoking some acrobatics, and by consequence, some surprises. “Things will undoubtedly get a little rough. In any case, that means a little apprehension and we have to make sure that certain are not left out before we even get started,” explains Pierre, who competed in two editions (2016 and 2017), when the winds were light to medium. Same thing, or almost, for Jean-Richard Minardi who returns this year with a new teammate, Coraline Jonet. “We form a pretty light duo, and Coraline is just starting out in F18. It risks to be rocky, even if she is a very experienced sailor and she learns very quickly,” explains the Swiss sailor, who will be sailing with a star athlete, winner of the 420 world championship in 2002, four-time winner of the D35 championship with team Alinghi and double winner of the famous Bol d’Or in 2011 and 2017. “For us, the goal for this week is to have a good time, and give it all we’ve got…!” He is certainly not the only one setting sail with that goal…
Schedule for Thursday, November 15
- 8:45am-9am: “Wake Me Up” with Geoffrey Personal Trainer
- 9am: Briefing “DESIGN AFFAIRS-OO1” Prize
- 10am: First race “DESIGN AFFAIRS-OO1” Prize
- 12pm-1:30pm: Picnic in Saint Jean
- 14:30pm: “DESIGN AFFAIRS-OO1” Prize
- 7pm: Opening ceremony at NIKKI BEACH will all sponsors
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November, 18 2018
The fourth and final day of the 11th St. Barth Cata Cup was expected to be decisive, at least for second and third place. But things turned out completely differently than anticipated. The reason? A huge mistake made by the Greeks, Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (St Barth Assurances). In fact, well on their way to a fifth straight race win, and first place in the overall rankings, the current world champions took the marker in the wrong direction. A mistake they won’t soon forget as it pushed them from first to fourth place. Yet this error worked to the advantage of duo Enrique Figueroa and Ruben Booth (Nikki Beach St Barth), winners of the “MARCHE U” Grand Prize, and especially for the tandem of Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St Barth), who at the end of the day, shot to the top step of the podium and became the big winners of this regatta, repeating their 2015 victory. They have now joined Misha Heemskerk and Eduard Zanen in the very small circle of double winners for this event.
November, 17 2018
Winds between 15 and 18 knots, seas much calmer than earlier this week, and a big tropical sun: this third day of competition for the 11th St. Barth Cata Cup saw almost ideal sailing conditions, allowing the committee to launch two great races. Both were hard-fought but finally won by Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (St Barth Assurances) who, since their unfortunate error during the first race, which earned them an 11th place, have been seemingly untouchable. In fact, these current world champions have been sailing perfect races. So this evening they are not only the winners of the Grand Prix “ST BARTH ASSURANCES-ALLIANZ,” but have also moved to the top of the provisional ratings, making a serious bid for an ultimate victory. Yet to succeed in that bid for a second consecutive win, the title holders have to remain vigilant, because hot on their heels, the competition is coming on strong. The proof is in the pudding: the five top boats in the overall ratings are within 11 points. Which means that the final race on Sunday, from Saint Jean to Public, will be the deciding factor.
November, 16 2018
On Friday, the second day of competition for the 11th St. Barth Cata Cup, the weather conditions made life difficult, not only for the race committee, which had to adapt the schedule in relationship to passing rain showers, and as a result could not start the day’s race until 3:30pm, but also for the racers who had to cope with winds between 20 and 25 knots and chaotic seas during the only race of the day. In these challenging conditions, basically similar to the previous day, logically the same teams were at the head of the class. And the triple stars of the day? Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (St Barth Assurances), Argentineans Pablo Volker and Sergio Mehl (Paraboot by Maxwell & Co), and Belgians Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St Barth). These three duos engaged in a remarkable battle right up to the last tack, and if the current world champions finally won the Grand Prix “EDEN ROCK VILLA RENTAL,” the South Americans held on to their first place in the provisional ratings for the regatta at the end of day two. These ratings are a bit upside down at the moment, due to a large number of boats that were forced to abandon: only 29 of the 51 that started actually crossed the finish line in the regatta’s third race.
November, 16 2018
The 11e edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup got off to a flying start on Thursday, since as expected, the weather conditions brought high winds, between 16 and 20 knots, but which allowed the committee to launch two races. The first was in the bay of St Jean, and the second, which was longer, between the islets of Tortue and Bœuf. If there were many unexpected maneuvers and some radical departures from the course, or in the case of the duo Kévin Gréaux— Hervé Brin (SBDE) who finished with a mast bent in two, the battle toward the finish was spectacular, especially for those in the front. In the end, if the Belgians Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St Barth) and the Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (St Barth Assurances) each earned a victory, the first place after day one goes to Argentineans Pablo Volker et Sergio Mehl (Paraboot by Maxwell & Co), who sailed strong and steady to win second place in both races and are thus the winners of the Grand Prix “DESIGN AFFAIRS-OO1.”
15 Novembre 2018
Among the 102 sailors taking part in the 11th edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup, which set sail on Thursday November 15, there are both professionals and amateurs, athletes from the four corners of the globe. Among the amateurs is Léo Jordil, whose father Vincent is one of the original organizers of the regatta. This year is the first time that Léo’s busy schedule has allowed him to participate in this event, and for his baptism by fire, the Saint Barth native chose Arnaud Camoin as his partner, although they usually sail together on a very different kind of boat, the 15 M JI Tuiga, flagship of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
November, 14 2018
After a day dedicated to preparing boats, confirming registrations, and training, the 51 crews representing the 11 nations participating in the 11th edition of St.Barth Cata Cup are ready to set sail. In fact as of Thursday, at 10am, they will attack the first race of the challenge. A challenge that promises to be especially vigorous, with winds coming from the east at 20 to 25 knots—at least for the first two days of the competition. Enough to guarantee some stylistic fireworks as well as a great show put on by the grand champions such as the Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis, current world champions back to defend their Cata Cup title, and at least 10 other duos who would like to give them a run for their money and take first place. And yes, this year once again, the level of the competition is very high, and the expected high winds could create some unexpected surprises.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
As the 11th edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup rapidly approaches, the organizers are busy getting ready to enthusiastically welcome the 60 teams expected for the event, including last year’s winners, Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis. This Greek duo, recently crowned Formula 18 World Champions in Sarasota, Florida, will try to defend their title and once again be victorious at the Cata Cup. Yet, to do so, there could be some choppy waters, as the competition not only comprises other teams who finished in the Top 15 at the Worlds in Florida, but also some top-name competitors —champions aboard sports catamaran or in other sailboat classes— including: Australian Gavin Colby; Noé Delpech, world vice-champion 2018 in the 49er class; or Morgan Lagravière, winner of the Cata Cup in 2014, and who has been racing recently on the 60 ft. IMOCA circuit. These ace sailors have just confirmed their participation or been given wild cards, to compete a roster that was already impressive, and only continues to get better! Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis, F18 World Champions
Tuesday, October 8, 2018
With the 11th edition of the St. Barth Cata-Cup setting sail just a month and a half from now, the organizers are getting everything ready to properly welcome the competitors. In Europe, on the last Friday in September, nine boats were loaded into a sea container that left Hyères to cross the ocean toward the Caribbean, while two other large metal cases with a total of 19 Formula 18 cats will be ready to leave on October 10 from Gravelines. The plan is for them all to arrive the week before the regatta in Gustavia. This is perfect timing so that the 55 duos registered to date, as well as two tandems with wild card status—Mitch and Rita Booth and Enrique Figueroa and Ruben Booth—to get their bearings out on the water before moving on to the more serious task at hand.
September 5, 2018
The 11th edition of the St. Barth Cata-Cup takes place on November 14-18, 2018. There are already no less than 55 crews representing 14 nations that have confirmed their registration for this event that is reserved for Formula 18 catamarans. Among them, there are those regulars who would not miss this regatta no matter what, such as Emmanuel Boulogne, Patrick Demesmaeker, Olivier Gagliani, Pierre Le Clainche, Antoine Joubert, and the duo of Iordanis Paschalidis and Kontantinos Trigonis, who would like to once again sail across the finish line in first place. There are also “smaller newcomers” attracted by the concept and the resoundingly convivial ambiance of this competition—a competition perfectly scheduled on the racing calendar to allow, on one hand, participants to finish their season in the tropical sun, and on the other hand, launch the island’s tourist season in a great way.
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