Regatta Marblehead Trophy 2019 among the yachts of a class “Dragon” is completed. The main prize of competitions – a rolling silver Cup – the next year will be kept in Saint-Petersburg. This was made possible thanks to the victory of Dmitry Samokhin, whose crew spent Tuesday three excellent races.
In the first of them is the team from the Yacht port “Hercules” made a move up the standings at its highest level, leaving astern and well speaker in St. Petersburg Portuguese Pedro Andrade, and their age-old friends-contenders from the team of Anatoly Loginov. But the current holder of the Cup with the outcome of this race has greatly complicated his position to fourth place at the finish dropped him from the leading position to second place, which also now had to share with Andrade. However, from Samokhina both pursuers separated by only one point.
The fourth race was supposed to solve if not everything, much. The starting period is better managed Loginov, who has long kept in the lead, having a significant advantage over their closest rivals. Behind, but still behind him kept the position and Samokhin. But Andrade beginning of the race was asked, and Portuguese sailor first loop has completed, while only 5-6 places.
However, the second part of the race he gradually began to win back the positions one by one and very powerful after tacking, the upper sign left as a leader. Now Loginov had to chase his opponent. In a difficult situation was and Samokhin, which, in addition to these two teams, ahead of another Italian riders from the tournament point of view, it is the Russians were not satisfied.
The situation was resolved already at the finish line: Pedro Andrade came first and scored 8 points, the second and left Anatoly Loginov (9 points), third place got the team of Dmitry Samokhin, having caught up on points with the Portuguese. Additional indicators the advantage of the Russian sailors. But at that time it was not so important, because the race Committee decided to hold another, the fifth race. At 16.34 was launched. Time for the race was just to have enough wind!
Enough, but only one loop. The fifth race started the mechanism of “emissions”, and thus someone in the result did little to improve their standings. The victory in the final race was won by the team of gérard Blanca (FRA 409), which eventually finished the regatta in fourth place. However, the trophy went to Dmitry Samohin and his crew, who finished second, but it was enough to hold on to first place in the tournament table. Pedro Andrade – in the second place, Anatoly Loginov third.
The bronze prize-winner of the regatta Anatoly Loginov (RUS 27):
– For the third place was upset, but not much. A lot of the competition. Here, the competition was serious. Everything is constantly changing. Conditions are not entirely predictable, and that’s good. The results are almost all the same. A clear advantage nobody had, and all decided by one or two points. Do we care about the Russian League? I think we will try!
Silver medal winner of the regatta Pedro Andrade (POR 84):
The day today was a very unusual weather conditions are very often changed, which was quite an ordeal for the athletes. The race was interesting because, in fact, no one had benefits, and everything starts as if from scratch. For us the day started not too good, but still we tried to stay in the game.
Boats Annapurna and RocknRolla among the best in the world. It is always hard to compete with them. Very good athletes with great experience, but we cannot fail to mention the rest of the team, which is also quite high. And generally in Russia the skill of the athletes is impressive.
Why couldn’t you win? For us, the starts were not very good, but I think that technical errors we had. The wind changed very often, it was hard to predict its direction. Anatoly was a bit unlucky, and he made a few mistakes. This is what gave him the opportunity to take first place. If I want to take revenge? Of course! And the day after tomorrow will come back for the win!
The winner of the regatta Dmitry Samokhin (RUS 76):
Today was a nervous day. Three races is a lot. At first we did it and we came leaders. In the second race of the day was the decision on its abolition. We, for example, was first a stock, the latter, also with the stock. In General, there were many permutations, the wind was absolutely not a race. And the last race was dramatic. We were fifth or sixth after rounding the top mark, although the first looked better. And all agreed a full course: we managed to get second place. Decided to go for the middle of the race, and it worked. The wind died, so the distance was reduced, that was enough for the victory.
– Full courses for the regatta much to decide…
Yes. And the fact that this fleet five or six boats on a better course than others. And only they had a real chance to win and come in the winners. Wasn’t interlayer between the leaders, and every point is a big gap. Every mistake, which is full aware that the running downwind, could be decisive.
– You often have to chase foreign drivers in their area. What they did here?
They are quite experienced guys who have won competitions of different levels. In various areas, including the unfamiliar. There are really quite specific conditions, e.g., complex currents, and then the local racers have a big advantage. And conditions average. You just have to chase. It was evident that the same Pedro always made the right choices, going in the right direction. It was not a situation where he would not know where to go.
– Are you satisfied with the victory?
– Of course. Very nice to win a trophy that is associated with such a long history. And very nice to leave him in St. Petersburg next year. I hope that the new Marina Yacht port “Hercules” by the time the regatta will be already ready.
The winner of the regatta:
1 place – Dmitry Samokhin (RUS 76, the Yacht port “Hercules”) – 7 points
2nd place – Pedro Andrade (POR 84, Yacht Club Nautico de Tavira) – 8
3 place – Anatoly Loginov (RUS 27, the Yacht club of Saint-Petersburg) – 9
4th place – Gerard Blanc (FRA 409, Yacht club de Cannes) – 16
5 place – Dmitry Bondarenko (GBR 408, Royal Ocean Racing Club) – 17
What do you think?