MOD70 European Tour Finished!

Like in Leg1, the last Miles of Leg5 was sailed in very weak winds and consequently low boat-speeds. 



Spindrift Racing was lucky to be the winner of Leg5. However Foncia made a good End-Sprint and gained the 2nd place in Leg 5. 

The Overall Victory was more important for Foncia and they succeeded in that.
Very much the result of constant  sailing and be in the top ranking at every event, brougth Foncia the Victory in this close battle around some European countries. 

LiveSkipper, the Best virtual Sailing site on the Web , saw also a safe finish of the many boats. The boats sailed the original route, in between Sardinia and Corsica and thus took some hours more. See the results in the  Ranking TAB, above. 

The MOD70 are now being prepared for the next sailing events: 

schedule from MOD70 
http://www.multionedesign.com/en/schedule.html

European Tour.
Timing around June 2013, 

route to be announced. 

The MOD70 Ocean World Tour. 

The global timing is stated as October 2013 - April 2014.

This MOD70  Ocean World Tour is thought to become a 3 yearly re-occurring sailing  Race, with  about 6 stop-overs. 

Global route indication for the Ocean World Tour: From Spain to Turkey, via the Middle East to Singapore. A long stretch to  Australia, and sailing the  Pacific to USA West coast (California). After passing the Panama canal, a visit to Brazil before setting sail to France. 

MOD70 Finish of Leg5 in Genoa.

The MOD70 Boats have finished Leg 5 in Genoa after a breathtaking final 20 Nm. The wind let down, as forecasted and the final miles were very slow and the tacktical game was won easily by Spindrift Racing.

MOD70 European Tour: Results for Leg 5

The moment Spindrift finishs, their main competition for the Overall win Foncia was still in 4th place, which would offer Spindrift Racing also the Overall Victory. There were some anxious moments of waiting to see the outcome of Leg5. 

As shown in above table it was Foncia, which sailed a little more westerly course and benefitting from some filling in  of the wind to gain 2nd place, shortly followed by Race for Water and Musandam Oman Sail. Edmond de Rothschild followed at a somewhat larger distance.

MOD70 Precision Sailing

The e-magazine Zilt , see link at the bottom of my Blogs, published a couple of beatiful action pictures of the MOD70 European Tour. I think this occurred at the city race in Dublin or the Start in Dublin.

A matter of close racing,

Foncia made a sharp turn to Port to avoid Musandam-Oman Sail and just in time to prevent a push from Race for Water. But suddenly there is Spindrift Racing in front of her and no way to steer starboard to avoid?

Oeefff.......that seems to go just fine, Foncia sails just behind and Musandam-Oman Sail looks to be fine to miss Spindrift Racing as well. 


But careful ..............another Boat Edmond de Rothschild is approaching in the wake of Spindrift Racing>>>>>>>

Foncia and Musandam Oman Sail luckily sailing quick enough to clear the way for Edmong de Rothschild. 

It all happens under the watchful eye of the RC boat ,who concluded "proper close sailing".

Do not forget that Tomorrow Sunday 30 September 2012 at 1300 GMT will be the START of the Last Leg 5 from Marseille, via some islands in the Med to the Finish in Genoa.

MOD70 had to cut leg4 short again ?

MOD70 European tour Leg4 was shortened again for the 3rd successive time in 4 legs. What is wrong with these Boats? What is wrong with the Race Organisation?

Musandam wins in Marseille, but Foncia has the most spectecular photo.

Or do these Boats and Crews love the shore live better as the sailing?

For sure it devaluates the MOD70 Race Series as every race is shortened as if these crew and boats are not capable of sailing a decent route. 

Well for what it is worth, here is the result for Leg 4 from Cascais to Marseille. 

13:15 - next at 16:15 (fr)				DTL (Nm)	Speed (Kts)	DTF (Nm)
		Musandam-Oman Sail Sidney Gavignet		3d 16h 11m 34s
		Race For Water Stève Ravussin		+2h 23m 7s
		Foncia Michel Desjoyeaux		+2h 45m 32s
		Spindrift Racing Yann Guichard		+5h 34m 7s
		Edmond De Rothschild Sébastien Josse		+5h 52m 38s

The virtual LiveSkipper boats have also filled the Podium already. Also in this race some 5 boats, separated ahead of the majority of the fleet, that is now with a SW wind arriving in big numbers. 

the winds are weak , the progress slow

MOD70 fleet now sailing the Med. waters 

The MOD70 Trimarans are sailing along the Spanish coast in weak winds. 
Musandam and Race for Water sailed that close to the coast that they benefited from the thermal land-winds. This has especially helped Musandam  to build a 60Nm lead on Race for Water. 

Still a long way to  go and the Med. winds may hold  some more surprises. 

The LiveSkipper fleet , got yesterday stuck in the Strait of Gibraltar and by only midnight managed to get thru, the first boats that is. 
Now in slightly better winds, 2kts sailing double the boats speed as yesterday :) 

MOD70 Passed Strait of Gibraltar.

This morning showed the MOD70 Trimarans passed the Strait of Gibraltar already.

Musandam Oman Sail leading in MOD70 leg 4

The Real Boat have made good progress, contrary to the virtual Boats in LiveSkipper who have still to pass Gibraltar and are now caught in wind holes, one after the other. 

START for MOD70 European Tour - Leg4

My Leg4 announcement is maybe a little late, but I am still busy optimizing my sailing in LEG 3.

Foncia wins MOD70 Leg 3

You can not count on the Real MOD70 Trimarans as so far half of the legs they have not sailed the route but only shortened it.

LiveSkipper virtual boats are sailing the complete legs and give a real competition to each other.

BUT,, lets hope that the professional skippers who apparently love the shore live more as the sailing races, are sufficiently rested and able to make this Leg a real leg full stretch , I mean all Miles :-)

Today Thursday 20 September at 0900 GMT, the START of Leg 4 of MOD70 Trimaran European Tour from Cascais to Marseille.
In LiveSkipper, you can sail this route also , be it virtually, but with the same wind conditions and far more participating skippers. You can see the progress of the real boats in LiveSkipper and sail against them, maybe even to beat them.
Just register for free at www.liveskipper.com, choose your Boat name and start Sailing.