Light and strong conditions at Croatia Cup

A report from the second event in the Yacht Sport Cup IMS series

The Croatia Cup held in Punat (island Krk) from 27-30. May was the second event of Yacht Sport Cup series. 20th anniversary running of the Croatia Cup, one of the best known Croatian offshore races gathered 14 boats from Austria, Czech Republic and Croatia. Some Croatian IMS boats also took part - Darko Hajdinjak, one of Croatia's best helmsman sailed Karuba the X-43 of Vladimir Golenic while helm Robert Sandalic and the team from JK Uskok from Zadar sailed on Gringo 2 , an Arcahaumbault 40 and class winner in the Rolex Giraglia Cup last year. At the helm of one more such boat was Robert Radola from JK Vega Pula.

A new Elan 37 on the IMS scene in northern Adriatic is Karaka helmed by Frane Barbieri. In addition to these favourites were Equinoxe 2 with Rene Mangold, winner of Austrian Championship also top placed for Yacht Sport Cup and Termag Magic helmed by Igor Lukanovic presently leading helmsman and yacht on VIP IMS ranking list.

Three windward-leeward courses races were sailed on the first day. First race started shortly after 12:00 with light south winds that won Karuba helmed by Darko Hajdinjak. Since this wind dropped many believed wind as forecast would turn into the Bura (the local north-east wind) but to the surprise southerly strengthened again and the second race was won by Termag Magic with Igor Lukanovic. Shortly after start of the third race the southerly faded and the race was abandoned the forecast Bura never arriving.

After the first day the leading boats were Karuba and DSK each scoring 5 points
ahead of Termag Magic scoring 7 points and Equinoxe 2 on 9 points.

After the expected Bura finally had blasted in over Friday night, Saturday was scheduled to run the round the island Krk race, but Senj port authorities warning of 40 knots Bura in their region resulted in alternative offshore race from Punat-Njivice-Punat where the Bura was less violent. The conditions enabled DSK to sail the 34.5 nm course at an
average speed of 7 knots and finish first on elapsed time.

The distance race scored as two races, the first from the start to Njivice and the second from start in Punat and back. Winning both races launched Chech Polar into the winning spot in the 20th Croatia Cup with two firsts, one third place and one discarded
disqualification for an early start. An early start took away the chance of winning
overall for Equinoxe 2 who was penalised by 10% on their elapsed time in both distance races dropped her from 1st to 8th place.

Two fourth places were enough for Termag Magic to score second overall. Only two points that separated boats placed second and sixth demonstrates how closely levelled was racing. Also DSK on third place has only one point advantage over even three tied boats: fourth Karuba, fifth Cool'n and sixth Yates Dos.

DSK realised its advantage with only one second before Karuba in corrected time in first offshore race.

The Yacht Sport Cup continues with the VIP IMS Mediterranean Championship in Cres
from 19-26. June. This season for Yacht Sport Cup series includes the following events:
19 - 26. 06. VIP IMS Mediterranean Championship, Cres (CRO)
02 - 04. 07 Galijola Sailing Week, Opatija (CRO)
03 - 05. 09. Alpe Adria IMS Cup, Rovinj (CRO)

Present ranking of Yacht Sport Cup (first 10 boats)

1. DSK IMX 45 Darko Keser CRO 158.59
2. Polar First 36.7 Jarolaw Korytar CZE 142.15
3. Equinoxe 2 IMX 40 Rene Mangold AUT 141.37
4. Cool'n Sun Fast 32i Winkler Yachting CRO 138.00
5. Yates Dos Bavaria 38 match Gosta Pongratz AUT 121.90
6. Christina 4 IMX 38 Gunther Nagele AUT 92.74
7. 10 x 10 V X 332 Anton Stader AUT 68.42
8. Termag Magic ILC 30 Igor Lukanović CRO 65.14
9. Xx2 X 412 MK3 Marco Lugoboni ITA 63.06
10. Eureka First 36.7 Bojan Rajar SLO 61.71

Overall sponsor of this initiative is company Yacht Sport based in Rijeka. Yacht Sport is importing sailing gear from well known UK manufacturer - Gill. Yacht Sport will provide sailing gear as prizes, total value of EUR 4.500 for the best three crews. Participants may as well benefit of special discounts on Gill products provided by Yacht Sport.