Friday, 29 August 2008 |
23:01 UAE time
Again Dubai welcomed the aristocrats of world sailing for the 2008 RC44 World Championships.
With DHL announced as the Official Logistics Partner for the RC44 class, it was somehow fitting that entire opening event of the 2008 season was shifted from Abu Dhabi to Dubai.
Coming hot on the heels of another world class regatta at the same venue - the Maktoum Sailing Trophy - the arrival of the high performance RC44s was eagerly anticipated at Mina Seyahi Dubai (DIMC).
The level of excitement that surrounds the RC44 Championship stems from the fact that this Russell Coutts devised, one-design class, not only features high performance, state-of-the-art craft, locked in close quarter competition; but the RC44s are also skippered and crewed by some of the most talented and experienced sailors on the planet.
The championship is innovative, fresh and one of the most exciting on the water today.
When the RC44 roadshow rolled into town on March 3rd, the skipper roster resembled a sailing grommet's 'People I'd love to meet' list. Chris Bake had reassembled his 2007 Championship squad aboard Team Aqua; which once again included pro sailor Cameron Appleton.
Runners-up in 2007, Russell Coutts' Team Omega returned and featured Patrick De Barros who was helming for the fleet races. Team Ceeref (Igor Lah / James Spithill) and Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano (Armando Giulietti and Sébastien Col) were others who had answered the Notice to Race.
The event started with the match racing in light yet stable conditions and it was the Sea Dubai Team, sponsored by the hosts DIMC and skippered by America's Cup veteran Markus Wieser, who laid down their marker.
The day couldn't have started better for the local team as they dominated the entire match against Team Ceeref - with no less than James Spithill at the helm - to take a first victory.
The initial success was then followed by two more wins, leaving both the team and their sponsors on a great high.
A former Flying Dutchman and Dragon sailor (amongst others), Markus was obviously satisfied with his debuts in the RC 44 Class. "We were helped by the light winds", he explained modestly.
"But we are obviously very happy. A lot of credit goes to our tactician Michael Hestbek, who was strategist on board the German entry during the last America's Cup."
There was still a long way to go however and with fifteen matches sailed, the top of the table was tied by three teams boasting three wins out of five.
After one fascinating closely fought match after another, talk back at the clubhouse was of how the teams were getting closer.
Even sailing superstar Russell Coutts on Team ES Bankers Dubai was feeling the heat: "I always sail with the new teams before they start racing, but maybe I will have to stop this! Our day was OK, but it's tough. The level is really high and there is good homogeneity within the teams. You just need to look at Team Aqua: they were clearly dominating last year but now it is harder. It's a real challenge, for me and for everyone."
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