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2005
Spring Cup First
Southern Area Championship First
Northern Area Championship First
UK Worlds qualification Series First
European Championship, Crouesty, France
First
World Championship, Weymouth, England - sailed in a new J Boat Italia,
"Echidna"
Ninth + First UK
2006
World Championship, Melbourne, Australia
Third
Spring Cup
First
Southern Area Championship First
Omega Match racing, Bahrain First
European Championship, Poole, England
First
2007
World Championship, Mexico,
Sixth
European Championship, Neustadt, Germany, First
| Light airs drop |
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Guests of Sheikh Khalifa, at the Omega Match racing, Bahrain:Mark Hayman, Bow; Ian Southworth, Helm; Catrina Southworth,
Jools Scott, mast. With Madeleine McLaughlin and Andy McLelland, Cockpit
2008
Pasquavela, Porta Santa Stefano ( Practice regatta)
Trofeo Navale, Livorno, 3rd
Cannigione, Sardinia Italy, Italian National Championship (17th)
Cannigione, Italy, J24 World Championship (3rd Overall)
Pasquavela
What an Easter to pick to sail Pasquavela. Bad weather followed us across the continent and torrential
rain and abandoned races were the order of the weekend. We even picked up a penalty and fine from the Italian authorities
for going out to practice in heavy winds with our friends - after racing was abandoned - the German crew of Rotoman.
The Italians were quick to let us off and with UK Helmsman, Duncan Mccarthy of Madeleine
on board, we sailed one of the windiest spinnaker runs ever. What a pity the video camera was below deck and we were
all aft of the traveller bar. But the Hotel Easter eggs were good and we were sorry to have to leave a day early to make the
drive up to Livorno to leave Hedgehog ready for our return a month later. But the rain...
Trofeo Navale, Livorno
A fantastic regatta with a very big fleet. Unfortunately the wind didn't join in. Andrea Casale,
in Fiamma Gialle, was in First place with Luigi Ravioli's in the newer Fiamma Gialle - yes the two crews
sail all year as members of the elite Italian Customs Sports Division - with the crew of Hedgehog - including Poole
sailor, Chris Lang on board.
Very light airs saw the loss of the last day to a temperature inversion over Livorno and the
Trophy went to Andrea Casale.
Italian Nationals and J24 World Championship
Hedgehog spent three weeks in Cannigione in preparation for the J24 World Championship.
The Italian Nationals proved frustrating. Chris McLaughlin arrived with a chest infection
that developed into Bronchitis. The Practice Race was prevented by the arrival of the Scirrocco wind, peaking at 53 mph. Chris
found it quite hard to breath on the beat back home.
He was very grateful to Anna Sargenti and the Italian crews who found him a doctor
and treatment.
Having lost preparation days, team Hedgehog was then struck down with seafood poisoning,
leaving Max Skelley, Mike Kyte and Andy McLelland bedridden for two days.
The crew could not start the first three races, then emerged to lead race 4, before
falling to a light airs shift and recording 5th place.
Hedgehog's final day score of First, First and Second hinted at what might have
been as they battled with Andrea Casale and Luigi Ravioli
World Championship, Cannigione, Italy, 2008
What a frustrating World Championship.
The Dock wasn't finished. Cranes had to be brought in and measurement
took a random couple of days. Sponsorship seemed limited after the excesses of Mexico and we were surprised to find an ongoing
dispute between the locals and the World Class Association over the need for an international Race Officer.
Cannigione is a stunning place but we were getting a little " Stir Crazy " after ten
days there and a series of illnesses. Luck and the close of the Melges 24 Worlds, delivered Race Officer, Peter Reggio, for
most of the series. What a pity he couldn't stay for the last two days.
Racing at the top end of the fleet was tight as ever, with possible winners including
ourselves, top Italian, Andrea Casale; Mark Hillman; Rossi Milev and top Brazilian crews, Mauricio Santa Cruz and Dan Glomb.
We opened the series with a tactical error. Light airs and big shifts from the
opposite direction to the Italian Nationals saw us arrive at the weather mark 12th, but gybe to get away from the slowing
boats ahead. We gybed into no breeze and finished the day 31st.
The boats that held on slid away from us. That got the discard dealt with!
10th, 8th and 4th followed putting us back into contention, then another very light
airs race. Starting at port end with all the series leaders, including Casale, we could only watch as the all- girl German
crew of Vega Reederei started at Committee-end with two other boats and into an unassailable lead.
Holding 4th place, we parked in no wind, as the leaders went away and the fleet gradually
caught us. Rounding in tenth place for what was to be a shortened course, we rolled the dice heading low away from the queue
of finishers. Our gambling was punished, converting 10th to 18th. Awful...
A new day and new breeze. But also a disappearing Race Officer. Peter Reggio had not
been booked for the entire regatta and local Italians took over for the three race day. Result: A course with the pin next
to a rocky shore. We broke through the mess to win the morning race from Mark Hillman of USA.
Two further races got more confused , with top Italian, Andrea Casale being struck
by a port tack Italian boat and being forced to retire for the day. He was awarded average points for the day by the international
jury giving him 6,3, 3 and the overall lead on 36 points . Rossi Milev of Canada, sailing with Class Chairman, Bob
Turner, had a great day with a 2 and 4 placing him second overall with 42 points. We sat in third place on 50 points.
Two races were scheduled for the final day and crews set up their boats in brilliant
sunshine and building winds. Casale's boat was repaired over night, but as the breeze built and with a Mistral-type breeze
forecast, the Italian authorities sent us back to the dock where crews waited all morning as the wind increased.
Racing was cancelled by the race officer in consultation with the local maritime authority.
Andrea Casale and the crew of Fiamma Gialle ( The Italian Customs Authority Sailing
Team) were awarded the 2008 World Championship.
Our congratulations to them. Now onto Annapolis, USA, in 2009.
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