Nacras @Palma 2014: Besson-Riou , Bissaro-Sicouri, Bundock-Curtis

All Images Jesus Renedo / Sofia. Most competitive event yet in the new Olympic Class. With a podium that gathers the present, future and glory of Catamaran Racing. Also great coverage by the organization having two excellent Pros like Jesus Renedo and Martinez Studio, Plus tracking in the final stage closing an almost perfect coverage. Isaf is filming the races in high def stable mode, but only publish some teasers.

Billy & Marie Riou are on a roll, after winning first Worlds last year, with Besson also taking the F18 title with Lagarrigue. Light and harsh weather conditions at Palma, with the Nacra 17s showing a weak point in the breeze and bareaways. It was an automatic pitch almost for every crew in the gold fleet the 25knots days.

Of course the leaders and more experienced catsailors like Besson and Bissaro managed to keep the boats afloat. Several masts were broken too in the pitchs. Crews coming from other classes can manage catracing at top level upto say 16knots? Above that range and in the upper 20s, it is survival mode, and only long time specialist can manage to tame the N17.

Guys like Bissaro coming from the H16 for instance, as remarked several times one of the best schools future serious catracers can have.

Vittorio & Silvia Sicouri were chasing the Elephants, and were short only of one of the top 3 of the herd. Cammas got an ocs and lost chances of podium, while the Italians went raising their level in the breeze. I told you this guy was good long time ago. I met Vitto at LA, quite a down to earth guy and always smiling. Racing with F18 & F16 experienced sailor Silvia Sicouri they have formed a solid young crew with lots of future beyond their current excellent performance.

In third place Bundock & Nina Curtis, currently coached by Andrew Landenberger, are showing that experience also counts in this class. It took them only one previous event to be up there. Bundy reporting that too much left to learn and achieve… that could be resumed as they are only two spots on being nr 1…!
Can you imagine if Darren feels he has much left to dial in , what is left for the rookies??

What a great combination of characters and talents
the Oylmpic mulithull class has already achieved. With Iker and Tara getting in the comfort zone beyond some pitchs, and with Arg Olympians Lange & Carranza training for Hyeres.

Zajac-Frank showing one more time they are serious contenders too. And it is important to remark the lack of Dutch crews at the top, with Renee Groeneveld in 10th place.
The Dutch teams dominated the first events of the inaugural season, later they went on a hurry discarding Thijs Visser (who won an event last year) and now beyond any specific issue with Charlie Beggeman and other team members ,and at least at Palma, the NED flag is nowhere to be seen in the top places.

Next event in a few weeks is WC Hyeres.
Top ten below, full results at https://www.sailing.org/worldcup/regattas/mallorca_2014.php?view=fleetevent&rgtaid=16344&evntid=31282#results