Conditions came good for the final races of the RC44 Valletta Cup yesterday with the wind well into the 20s and substantial waves once again but with the welcome addition of Mediterranean sunshine.
After Saturday’s single race, Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio coaxed the fleet out an hour earlier and succeeded in getting three races completed before returning to the Royal Malta Yacht Club in Ta’ Xbiex early in the afternoon.
The races saw crews severely challenged with almost all making costly errors, particularly with their gennaker handling.
Nico Poons and his Charisma team produced another consistent day to seal the Valletta Cup comfortably.
Former leader Katusha did not race yesterday, having retired due to a discrepancy with their crew classification.
“It feels great,” said Dutchman Poons after dowsing his crew in victors’ champagne.
“Today was not easy. There was quite a lot of wind, but it was fun, especially downwind. You had to concentrate so that you didn’t flip which was difficult.
“Even upwind, going through the waves needed concentration.”
Poons’s new tactician, Ray Davies, beat his former Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker into second place. At the Valletta Cup, Barker called the shots on board Vladimir Prosikhin’s Team Nika, ending the regatta ten points adrift of Charisma.
“It is a very good position, second in this fleet. When the fleet is so strong, it is an honour,” said an ever modest Prosikhin.
After winning the second race, Team Nika led into the leeward gate on race three only to trawl her kite. They were still able to salvage fifth place, however.
Vladimir Liubomirov and Bronenosec completed the Valletta Cup podium, finishing two points behind Team Nika.
Liubomirov was pleased with his team’s third place.
“We have to come back next year,” he said.
“It is one of the best places we have been to. The people are so friendly. The hospitality is at a very high level.”
If consistency was the key to the Valletta Cup, one team that suffered from a lack of this respect was Igor Lah’s Team CEEREF.
They won the first race (adding to their two bullets on day one) but also scored several deep results over the four days, leaving the Slovenian RC44 fifth overall.
Sweden’s Richard Gorannson, taking over the helm of Chris Bake’s Team Aqua made progressive improvement and yesterday earned his first two podium finishes, leaving Team Aqua fourth in the final standings, just two points from third.
The RC44s now decamp north for the AudiPorto Cervo Cup – June 17-21.
“The RC44 Valletta Cup has been a challenging yet an immensely positive experience,” Niki Travers Tauss, director, Yachting Events, organisers of the RC44 Valletta Cup, said.
“What initially seemed a mammoth task, eventually became a reality and we are proud to have hosted some of the world’s top sailors and businessmen to this small island.
“We are grateful to all those who worked tirelessly to ensure this event runs smoothly and successfully in particular the race sponsors and partners and the volunteers who put in so much of their time into the RC44 Valletta Cup.
“We look forward to hosting the second RC44 Valletta Cup in 2016.”
Valletta Cup standings
1. Charisma (Monaco) - 29 points
2. Team Nika (Russia) - 39
3. Bronenosec (Russia) - 41
4. Team Aqua (Britain) - 43
5. Team CEEREF (Slovenia) - 50
6. Katusha (Russia) - 53
7. Peninsula Petroleum (Britain) - 57
8. Anywayanyday (Russia) - 61
9. Artemis Racing (Sweden) - 64
10. Artemis Racing Youth (Sweden) - 72
11. MAG Racing (Poland) - 98