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Rolex Farr 40 Worlds

Jim Richardson win the Farr 40 Worlds

"Coming to Italy and winning… is an amazing feeling for us"

dimanche 28 juin 2009 – Redaction SSS [Source RP]

In typical Farr 40 style the final day of racing in the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship 2009 saw the 25 boat fleet line up for the tenth and final race with just one point separating the top two teams. All was set for a duel to the death between two time world champion Jim Richardson (1998, 2004) on Barking Mad and Massimo Mezzaroma with his Nerone (ITA), winner of the 2003 world championship organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in Porto Cervo.


In the end Nerone, with Vasco Vascotto calling tactics, did not manage to shine in Race Ten and Barking Mad, with tactician Terry Hutchinson, comfortably defended the lead she had held since day one of the series to clinch the title for the third time. Nerone took second place with Giovanni Maspero’s Joe Fly in third. Former world champion Vincenzo Onorato came fourth.

The Mistral wind, sunshine and blue skies which characterized the entire event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda from 22nd to 27th June, were present once again for the start of today’s first race. Race Nine started on schedule at 11.05 in approximately 18 knots of wind from 290°. Nerone started well and was followed around the first mark, where winds reached 22 knots, by Joe Fly and Flash Gordon (USA), owned by Helmut Jahn. A head to head battle ensued between Nerone and Joe Fly but it was Vascotto’s team which crossed the finish line first ahead of Joe Fly, with Francesco Bruni on tactics, and Flash Gordon.

Heading into Race Ten, the final of the series, Barking Mad’s sixth place in Race Nine left her just one point ahead of Nerone. Tension was high as the fleet crossed the line at 12.40 pm in approximately 20 knots of wind which held at 290°. The American’s of Barking Mad and Flash Gordon followed Alessandro Barnaba’s Fiamma, with tactician Tommaso Chieffi, around the first windward mark. Barking Mad had taken the lead by the leeward gate with Mascalzone Latino hot on her heels and Flash Gordon in third. Mascalzone gained the lead during the second windward leg and held it to the finish, crossing the line ahead of Barking Mad and Flash Gordon respectively.

Richardson was delighted with a World Championship which saw him average less than four points per race : "We’re very, very happy. Coming to Italy and winning this World Championship in Porto Cervo is an amazing feeling for us. There are so many good teams out there, particularly the Italians and to be able to win in their home waters is a great thrill for us.”

"We could almost taste victory, so it’s disappointing not to win”, commented Vasco Vascotto, tactician on Nerone, “we sailed well but the American’s were more constant. It has been a great season and we have gained experience, you never stop learning.”

Mascalzone’s Vincenzo Onorato, racing under the YCCS burgee, was philosophical about handing over the title he had won for three consecutive years. “ It’s a great story for the class, we went to Jim’s hometown to win the Farr 40 World Championship in 2006 in Newport, Rhode Island, and Jim has come here to our home, in Porto Cervo to win the Worlds. The last race was the first in our campaign for the Farr 40 Worlds 2010 at Casa di Campo.”

PRO Peter “Luigi” Reggio summed up the week’s racing nicely : “This place is just insanely cool !”

– Press info Key Partners / www.farr40worldchampionship.com / www.yccs.it

General Classification Overall (Provisional)

Position. Boat, Owner, (Nationality). R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10. Tot.
– 1. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson (USA). 1, 6, 4, 1, 6, 6, 3, 3, 6, 2. 38
– 2. Nerone, Massimo Mezzaroma (ITA). 5, 1, 13, 2, 4, 2, 1, 8, 1, 8. 45
– 3. Joe Fly, Giovanni Maspero (ITA). 4, 5, 5, 4, 1, 19, 2, 6, 2, 5. 53

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