Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard brokerage

Star Sailors League Finals at Nassau Yacht Club, The Bahamas - Day 3

by Rachele Vitello 6 Dec 2019 07:54 UTC 2-7 December 2019

A lighter 6-12 knot day on Nassau's Montagu Bay brought a fresh set of winners among the 23 competing teams on day three of the SSL Finals, the event determining 2019's 'stars of the sailing world'.

Star of the day was Australian Torvar Mirsky, sailing with Ireland's Robert O'Leary. With the wind due north, the 2017 Match Racing World Champion was unbeatable upwind, leading at the top mark in all three of today's races. However it was only in the second when they converted this to their first bullet.

"It was a splendid day - I'm really stoked," said a jubilant Mirsky once ashore at the Nassau Yacht Club. "We were struggling a little downwind, but we were at the front of the fleet, which was really cool. In the lighter conditions we could look around a bit so we were able to tack, play the fleet and the shifts a little bit. We held on to most of it..."

Of his first SSL Finals Mirsky commented: "It is spectacular - humbling to be among such a concentration of sailing legends."

Tensions had clearly risen today with it taking three attempts to send off the first race. The final of these was under the U flag, and, disastrously, OCS with Ricardo Fabini and Federico Calegari, were Diego Negri and Frithjof Kleen, the stand-out leaders going into today. This cost them 24 points, which might not have done too much harm being their discard, but in the second race they only managed a 21st. Ultimately a dreadful 56 point day dropped them to third overall, 13 points behind overall leaders Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Bruno Prada, the Polish-Brazilian reigning Star World Champions.

The first race ended in a match race between US duo Eric Doyle and Payson Infelise and Brazilians, the young Snipe World Champion Henrique Haddad and Star veteran Henry Boening.

Doyle commented: "We didn't have a great start, but we did well in a couple of shifts up the beat. It was a really good battle on the last run, because you had to gybe on every shift, and everyone was going for it really hard. It was great fun and we just squeaked out in front of the Brazilians."

In the second race, Croats Tonci Stipanovic and Tudor Bilic were called over early. As Stipanovic explained: "After the first race we decided we had to push more, but at the start the Uruguayan guys pushed us over. When I saw our number on the board [OCS] I was really disappointed, we were pushing too much." There was some consolation in the last race when the Rio 2016 Laser silver medallist finished fifth, his best result so far.

The third race saw the most contention for the lead with Olympic legends Iain Percy and Anders Ekström putting in their best result of the day - a second, which with their 5-13 earlier left them second overall, 10 points off the lead.

Despite it being ultra-close at the second top mark rounding with Percy-Ekström, Mirsky-O'Leary and France's Xavier Rohart and Pierre-Alexis Ponsot, just nosing ahead were the Kiwi-Brazilian pair, Hamish Pepper and defending SSL Finals champion Pedro Trouche.

Pepper explained: "In the last race I was more confident in my game plan and could protect the right." As to the end of the second upwind he added: "We were a bit lucky there - we tacked, got a bit of a header so we could sneak in front of Torvar and Iain." Sadly for Pepper this win followed two 20th placed finishes leaving them in 11th overall.

Generally the lighter conditions favoured the youngsters. While Mirsky-O'Leary were the class act, scoring just one point more today were Scottish Laser European Champion Lorenzo Chiavarini and his German crew Kilian Weise, whose 3-3-6 left them in seventh (following yesterday's two DNFs).

Also going well today were Brazilians Haddad and Boening who posted a 2-7-7, leaving them 10th. "For sure the light conditions were better for us, but we were really aggressive with our plan to stay on the right side on the upwinds, where the big puffs and shifts were coming from," explained Haddad. As to beating the heroes of the sport he added: "It is something that we don't think about on the water, but when we look at the results and are ahead of many of them, it is a great feeling."

Another three races are scheduled tomorrow starting at 1100. These will be the last of the qualification round. After this the top 10 alone will be heading on to Saturday's Finals rounds.

Top 10 results after eight races and one discard:

1 Mateusz Kusznierewicz POL Bruno Prada BRA 33
2 Iain Percy GBR Anders Ekström SWE 43
3 Diego Negri ITA Frithjof Kleen GER 46
4 Eivind Melleby NOR Josh Revkin USA 46
5 Xavier Rohart FRA Pierre-Alexis Ponsot FRA 51
6 Oskari Muhonen FIN Vitalii Kushnir UKR 52
7 Lorenzo Chiavarini GBR Kilian Weise GER 54
8 Paul Cayard USA Phil Trinter USA 55
9 Torvar Mirsky AUS Robert O'Leary IRE 57
10 Henrique Haddad BRA Henry Boening BRA 63

For more information visit:

Related Articles

Packing for a Summer Sailing Weekend
Just because it's summer doesn't mean you're going to stay warm and dry all the time Just because it's summer doesn't mean you're going to stay warm and dry all the time, particularly when you're out on the water. The day may start windless, with a little dew on the ground, but a sea breeze can pick up in the afternoon. Posted on 1 Jul
Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted on 1 Jul
New Zero Weight 2-in-1 Shorts from Henri-Lloyd
When the weather's hot, there's nothing better to keep you cool on or off the water When the weather's hot, there's nothing better than Henri-Lloyd's Zero Weight 2-in-1 shorts to keep you cool on or off the water. Posted on 30 Jun
Barton Marine Partners with Amarcord Marine
To Distribute Product Range in Hungary Barton Marine continues to expand its distribution network through the appointment of Amarcord Marine Ltd in Hungary. Amarcord Marine is the sister company of Galco Yachting Ropes, a well-established family-owned manufacturer. Posted on 30 Jun
Preparing my boat for crossing the Atlantic
Nico takes you aboard Sine Finis, revealing essential steps in preparation for an ocean crossing Sailboats navigate through harsh environments, saltwater, waves, wind, and high forces, sometimes violent. Whether sailing for an hour or preparing for an ocean crossing, ensuring my boat is ready and well-equipped is always a priority. Posted on 30 Jun
Grand Soleil 65 Performance
A new chapter in the Plus line Following the success of the Long Cruise version, Cantiere del Pardo unveils the new Grand Soleil 65 Performance: the sportier evolution of a model already celebrated for its elegance, build quality, and onboard comfort. Posted on 29 Jun
Project FEAR is in the final few days
Charity circumnavigation almost over, in record time, with a record total raised Jazz Turner is expected to reach home (Brighton Marina) on Monday 30th June or Tuesday 1st July. She has sailed round the British Isles - all round Ireland and the Shetland Islands - without any assistance in 27 days so far. Posted on 28 Jun
Royal Thames YC 250th Anniversary Thames Pageant
24 RTYC member vessels are set to converge on the tidal Thames and form a flotilla through London London's Royal Thames Yacht Club will mark a very special anniversary at St Katharine Docks this month. Celebrating its 250th anniversary, 24 RTYC member vessels are set to converge on the tidal Thames and form a flotilla through London. Posted on 27 Jun
Whitstable Harbour & Boat Show returns
Heritage crafts take centre stage The Whitstable Harbour & Boat Show returns this summer for the first time since the Covid pandemic and its newest attraction - The Heritage Boat Building Centre - has already been extended to accommodate demand from boatbuilders and other exhibitors. Posted on 26 Jun
Craig Wood Makes History
The first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Craig is the first triple amputee to sail solo non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific, completing the 7506nm journey from Mexico to Japan in 90 days. Posted on 26 Jun
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERNoble Marine 2022 SW - FOOTER