Following its clean sweep in Tuesday's races at the RC44 Copenhagen Cup, the Dubai-based Team Aqua staged another masterclass in yacht racing today, to take the match-racing title for the regatta.
A day that had begun with a good breeze - albeit accompanied by heavy cloud and a threat of rain - degenerated into a frustrating day for racing, as the wind dropped to barely five knots, accompanied by a choppy sea. However that did not deter Team Aqua. Owned by the Dubai businessman Chris Bake and helmed by Cameron Appleton, Aqua began the day by beating Sea Dubai in a UAE derby, after the latter went over the line early and had to re-start.
Aqua's race against Ceeref, was crucial, with the Slovenian yacht still mathematically capable of snatching the top spot. However, a brilliant move by Appleton and his crew, dipping Ceeref to take the inside at the top mark, proved decisive earning the UAE team its eighth win in nine races.
The Swedish boat, Artemis, with Terry Hutchinson at the helm, became the only yacht to defeat Aqua in this regatta. "This has been a great series for us," said Appleton. "I am very happy for the team and for myself. We've also had a lot of fun."
Sea Dubai, the yacht owned by Dubai International Marine Club, had stood at third equal overnight but had a less happy day. Although its four matches were all close, it was unable to notch up a win and ended 7th in the match-racing rankings. "Racing was very close today and we sailed really well as a team," said Eberhard Magg, the pitman at the centre of the boat.
"The level of the racing is so high and when you look at the names on the crew lists, it's like a who's who of the sailing world; it's amazing to be racing at this level and doing so well. It felt good out there today even though our scores weren't so good."
Sea Dubai is ranked fourth overall in match-racing for the season to date, and goes in to the fleet-racing stage of the regatta tomorrow holding second place overall in the combined rankings. With Aqua holding second and fifth places respectively in those rankings, Dubai is certainly making its presence felt in the elite RC44 class this season.
Today there is a practice race, which will be followed by three days of fleet racing, starting tomorrow, in which the class rules state that the yacht's owner or a non-professional sailor must take the helm.
slane@thenational.ae
