Neck and neck

Maurizio Giuggioli reports on a tense first day of the International Catamaran Challenge Trophy final

The final of the 25th International Catamaran Challenge Trophy again features Daniele Saragoni and Teo Di Battista who challenge the trophy holders, the US 2004 Tornado Silver medalists John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree in a best of seven races.

This time the Italian challengers are sailing in home waters - both live around Rimini - and are very fast indeed in the conditions seen so far - light winds and fairly flat sea - as their 15-0 score in the challenger selection series demonstrated.

The first race today started in 5.5 knots. Lovell won the start and he subsequently would repeat this in all the following four starts of the day. But at the upwind mark in race one Saragoni was leading by a clear margin. The Italian team has better boat speed partly because they are 15-20kg lighter than the US team. After each leg Saragoni/Di Battista extended their advantage to win win by a confortable margin.
1-0 for the Challengers.

After the boats' exchange, at the starting signal of the second race the wind blew at 8 knots. Lovell wanted the right and was able to force the Italians to start at the pin end. The Americans found more pressure ashore and at the upwind mark lead by eight boatlengths and maintained a cover to win by 22 seconds.
Now it is 1-1.

At the start of the third race the wind drops again. Lovell crossed the starting line a boat length behind but in the place he planned, at the boat end. This time Saragoni tacked to port immediately after the start and followed the US team across to the right side.

At the first crossing up the beat Lovell was still ahead but better boat speed allowed the Italians to finish the first leg with a huge margin - 33 seconds - which increased to 55 seconds at the end of the first lap.

In the second upwind leg Lovell, in order to reverse the situation, choses not to follow Saragoni on the right, where evidently there is better pressure, and goes to the left. His gamble does not pay. Saragoni widens his lead dramatically and at the finish the Italian team lead by 2 minutes and 2 seconds.

Italy 2-USA 1

In race four Lovell started two boatlengths ahead and again headed right. Saragoni has no other choice than to tack twice in order to come out from the America's shadow. The wind has built to 8-9 knots. Lovell has eight boatlenghts lead at the first crossing and rounds the weather mark 22 seconds before the Italians.

The margin is steady at 22 seconds after the first lap but later increases to 40 at the second lap and to 1 minute and 6 seconds at the finish.

Italy 2-USA 2

The fifth and last race of the first day will determine which of the two teams will start the last one (or two) races with the upper hand. Tension is high. During the prestart manouvering the spinnaker of the Italians rips.

They show the green flag: the start is stopped in order to allow them to replace the sail.

When the race restarts Lovell is able to give Saragoni a penalty and once again win the start, but the wind eases and Saragoni rounds the weather mark six seconds ahead, and extends to 22 at downwind mark....26 after the second upwind leg...37 after the second lap. In the third and final upwind leg Saragoni achieves his 270° penalty turn and without losing too much time. He crossese the finish line 23 second ahead.

This advantage gives the Italian team the opportunity tomorrow to lose a regatta without losing the Trophy.