Last day of racing BMW Dragon Gold Cup 2010

This last day offered some sun and a steady southeasterly wind of 7 – 10m/s, 14 – 20kts. After three general recalls the boats were off. The Race Committee had planned two races but only one was completed. Skipper Anatoly Loginov in RUS27 and his crew Andrey Kirilyuk, Alexander Shalagin were the overall winners of the BMW Dragon Gold Cup 2010.

The start was delayed an hour and a half due to three gnerall recalls. After a bit more than two hours today’s race was won by POR 58, Felipe Silva, runner up GBR723, Quentin Strauss and third DEN399, Jens Christensen. RUS27, skipper Anatoly Loginov came in fourth which meant a step up from second to first place overall and winner of the BMW Dragon Gold Cup 2010.

The winners had only 4 points more than the runner up UKR8, skipper Leon Hendriksen, crew Igor Sidorov and Georgiy Leonchuk, who were in the lead after three races but their 12th place today lost hem the Cup.

Today’s winner POR58, overall third, had the same number of points as the runner up but UKR8 had two firsts and POR58 only one.

Already last year, Anatoly Loginov RUS27 showed his mettle when he came third in the Dragon Gold Cup in Skagen, Denmark. Earlier this year he won a bronze in the Europeans in Hungary.

When asked by Gisela Andrén, GKSS’s Press Office, why they are so successful, Anatoly Loginov says: – We’re a really good team; we chose the correct side of the course and made very few mistakes!

This year’s starting field comprised as many as 96 boats, out of 106 applications, more than in the Dragon Gold Cup in Denmark last year. On the starting line there were medalists from both Olympics and Worlds, CEOs, bankers, professional yachtsmen and Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Henrik of Denmark.

9th place overall and best Swede was SWE358 Hans Liljeblad, crew Fredrik Heijne and Johan Hedberg. Asked if they were happy with the result Hans said: – Yes we really are! We made quite a few minor mistakes but were never worse than 20th with a 10th as our best result. We won the Swedish Championships this year and have sailed a lot of regattas which has paid off.

Marstrand offered the sailors popular “After Sails”, a royal gala dinner, varied winds, sun, rain and waves and thus confirmed its position as Sweden’s sailing Mekka. During seven days sailors from all over the world participated in an event well organized by GKSS.

Kerstin Holmberg, Race Committee Chairman of the BMW Dragon Gold Cup is really pleased. “Our organization of some 50 volunteers, working day and night, have done a fantastic job!”

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The Organization behind BMW Dragon Gold Cup

Jessica Grahn, Race Officer. Why did you accept the job as Race Office Manager? “I like working regattas”. What is your role at the Race Office? “Make sure that everything runs smoothly. Registration, requests and everything you can think of”! What else do you do? “You name it. Print tickets, make lists in Excel, handle registrations of protests”. How many work in the Race Office? “Four people the whole regatta and two more the first couple of days when there is most to do”. What are your strong points? “Working with Excel, handling computers, simultaneous capacity”. What is your next event? “The Volvo Ocean Race, I work as event manager for AB Volvo”.

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RACE DAY 4 – BMW DRAGON GOLD CUP

Five knots current and no wind meant that the organizers two hours after the scheduled start cancelled todays race. Three races are now completed in the BMW Dragon Gold Cup. The rules says at least four races. The organizers have for tomorrow planned two races with an early start at 10 am. Weather outlook for tomorrow says easterly winds around 10 m/s and rain most of the day, possibly with a hint of thunder. Weather at Marstrand on Thursday offered lots of sun and heat. Parking areas on the main land quickly filled in the morning of visitors who wanted to get a glimpse of the Swedish royal couple who were expected to the island in the afternoon to watch the races. Later in the evening the Swedish King and Queen attended the Regatta dinner which was held on the occasion of the celebration of Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club 150th anniversary

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Third day of racing – BMW Dragon Gold Cup

The weather forecast for Wednesday promised lots of rain and wind, both decreasing in the afternoon. Two races were planned but an approaching thunderstorm and very weak winds made the Race Committee order the sailors to return to port and the second race was cancelled. Winner today was Lars Hendricson in UKR8, who also won race two on Monday. Today’s best Swede was Hans Wallén in SWE316, who finished 5th.

Wind and currents on the Marstrand fjord were tricky today and many took the forecast for the wind change into consideration right from the start – but it never came. Those who stayed with prevailing wind and current to the north had a clear advantage.

Three races have been completed. Overall leader is Lars Hendricson UKR8, runner up RUS27, skipper Anatoly Loginov. In third place is UKR9, skipper Werner Fritz. Best Swede after three races is KG Löhr, SWE352 in seventh place. KG Löhr , Dragon sailor for many years, has now decided to go for top placements. He has therefore engaged professional tactician Jesper Bendix as crew, invested in the best equipment and lots of training, which has all paid off.

Right now it looks as if Lars Hendricson is going to repeat his successes from 1999 and 2007 when he won the Dragon Gold Cup. “We had a nice race today and chose the right side of the race course. No major mistakes but some difficulties seeing the marks in the rain.”

Hans Wallén, best Swede today, is a highly qualified yachtsman with a Worlds in Optimist and a silver in Starboat in the 1996 Olympics. He is new as skipper in the Dragon class but has some experience as tactician for Björn Palmqvist. Four years ago they won the Swedish Championships and have also won the French and German Championships. ”Our tactics here in Marstrand has been to keep away from the big clusters, stay as ”clean” as possible and not get involved in any tricky situations. It has turned out well. Today we chose not to put our faith in a windshift , which was the right decision.”

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The organization behind BMW Dragon Gold Cup

Lets start with Chairman of the race committé – Kerstin Holmberg
This is the 10th time GKSS arranges the Dragon Gold Cup since 1930 when it was held for the first time but it’s 19 years since the last time.

What experience do you have of big sailing events?
“I ‘ve been working with sail racing since 1997 both as Race Officer and Chairman Organising Committee. Not yet international though. I organized the Europeans in Off Shore Racing 2 years ago” Your best qualities to get this job done? “I’m a good organizer with a background as teacher and researcher. I’ve a Ph.D in Zoology and am an ethologist; a person who knows about animal behavior. I want order and structure and think it’s important to have everything in hand. I work as a lecturer at the university and am used to talking to an audience and have always dealt with people”. How do you get everyone to work together? “We have volunteers from 18 to 70 years old. It’s fantastic to see how they all work together and how there different experience and competences come together”. What could you teach others? “Co-operation”! Are they willing to learn? “Oh yes”! How has it worked out so far? “Just great! Everyone is really fantastic”! Your best sailing memory? “-I’ll have to think about that”. Any racing events next year. “Nothing definite yet but I wouldn’t mind organizing some big event”.

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Second day of sailing – BMW Dragon Gold Cup

SECOND DAY OF RACING – BMW DRAGON GOLD CUP
On the second day of racing the Marstrand fjord took its toll. After a couple of restarts the race was on its way but westerly winds up to 13 m/s, 26 kts and heavy seas caused some 15 boats to retire. A second race was scheduled today but was cancelled.

The sailing instructions in accordance with IDA (International Dragon Association) rules say no races in steady winds of 14 m/s, 28 kts. The weather forecast for this afternoon predicted winds up to that limit, which in combination with very heavy seas made the Race Committee decide to cancel the second race.

Winner of today’s race was UKR8, skipper Lars Hendricson, crew Igor Sidorov and Georgiy Leonchuk. “Not a very good start on the starboard side. We tacked directly to starboard because we thought there was less wind and waves and that turned out to be the right decision. So we were 3 – 4 at the windward mark. Downwind we bent the spinnaker pole but kept the spinnaker up anyway, which was a bit iffy. We rounded as 5th or 6th. After the second tack we rounded first. We fixed the spinnaker pole so we could use it and had an amazing downwind leg, surfing a lot of the way. Perfect sailing today! Great fun! Dragon racing at its best! Feels good after being 19th yesterday,” says Lars Hendricson.

Best Swede was SWE213, skipper Lasse Molse, crew Anders Ekström and Dan Lovén who finished 3rd. “We made a good start and decisive for today’s result was that we chose the right side of the course for the tacks. The conditions on the fjord were tough with fantastic downwind legs and thrilling surfs. The sails got some minor rips – otherwise nothing. Today compensated for our 29th place yesterday and gave us a kick,” says Anders Ekström and Dan Lovén.

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First race winners: GER 1071

The winner was GER 1071 (Germany), skipper Helmut Schmidt and his crew Peter Liebner and Andreas Listl.
- “We had to wait quite some time to start. After a couple of restarts we were finally off. We chose to start to leeward and rounded as 5th after the first tack. On the first downwind leg we passed another two boats and rounded first after the second tack. On the last downwind leg the other boats narrowed the gap but we managed to stay on top and after a successful tacking duel with UKR9(Ukraine), skipper Werner Fritz and a good lift we were first across the line.”

Runner up was UKR9 with helsman Werner Fritz and on third place GER1036 Stephan Link.

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Impressive opening ceremony at Carlsten fortress

Led by drummers, soldiers in old fashioned uniforms and 17 flag bearers; participants,
volunteers and sponsors marched up the steep incline to Carlsten Fortress, where
Commandant Eive Swanberg received them all. The evening began with speeches by
Principal Race Officer Kerstin Holmberg and RGYC (GKSS) chairman Lennart
Svantesson. The ISAF president Göran Petersson then declared the BMW Dragon Gold
Cup officially opened.

Principal Race Officer Kerstin Holmberg and RGYC (GKSS) chairman Lennart Svantesson
began the evening by welcoming all participants. After that the president of ISAF (International
Sailing Association Federation) Göran Petersson gave a short speech after which a musket salute
and the BMW Dragon Gold Cup was officially opened. Many participants then went on to the
nostalgic disco, the BMW Dragon Gold Cup Night, at Societetshuset in Marstrand.

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Follow the tune-up race in real time with GPS tracking here.

Heading for sea and the tune-up race!
Time for some racing! Today’s Tune-Up race gives the sailors the chance to test out their gear.

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BMW Dragon Gold Cup 2010 – Photos & Videos

Follow BMW Dragon Gold Cup at Marstrand 5-13th of August – daily for photos and videos.

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