Press releases
The 11th Edition On The Horizon!
The 11th edition of the St. Barth Cata-Cup takes place on November 14-18, 2018. There are already no less than 55 crews representing 14 nations that have confirmed their registration for this event that is reserved for Formula 18 catamarans. Among them, there are those regulars who would not miss this regatta no matter what, such as Emmanuel Boulogne, Patrick Demesmaeker, Olivier Gagliani, Pierre Le Clainche, Antoine Joubert, and the duo of Iordanis Paschalidis and Kontantinos Trigonis, who would like to once again sail across the finish line in first place. There are also “smaller newcomers” attracted by the concept and the resoundingly convivial ambiance of this competition—a competition perfectly scheduled on the racing calendar to allow, on one hand, participants to finish their season in the tropical sun, and on the other hand, launch the island’s tourist season in a great way.
Now that it is just two and a half months before the starting gun for the 11th edition of the St. Barth Cata-Cup, 55 crews are already signed up to race in this regatta for Formula 18 cats. “The St. Barth Cata-Cup has become a classic. As far as I am concerned, when I do my annual planning, this is the first regatta I sign up for. It comes at a good time for me, and many other pro racers, for whom it closes the season. It’s the cherry on the cake to finish the year. The level of competition is excellent and the ambiance is very convivial. In addition, it’s a turnkey regatta. Not to be missed!” assures Gurvan Bontemps, who is ready to register again this year for his eighth participation for this event, yet with a new teammate.
After racing with Giuseppe Dessi and Benjamin Amio in the past, this sailor from Morbihan in Brittany will compete as a duo with Erik Maris, who is also a seasoned veteran of this event and will not return to Saint Barth to be a simple extra: “We seriously hope to finish in a top place, but the level of the competition is only getting more challenging from one year to the next,” notes Gurvan.
An Extremely High Level
In fact, the St. Barth Cata-Cup attracts the best of today’s Formula 18 racers, starting with the tandem Iordanis Paschalidis—Kontantinos Trigonis. Recently crowned as European champions at Sant Pere Pescador in Spain, this Greek duo will once again participate in this regatta, clearly with the ambition of defending their title. But the challengers, many top champions for these small multi-hulls, will be on hand to give them some serious competition. Among others, the top names include Emmanuel Boulogne from France, Argentineans Cruz Gonzales Smith and Mariano Heuser, as well as Belgians Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani, who were all on the podium last year.
“The excellent level of the roster for this race is naturally one of the things that makes the St.Barth Cata-Cup so attractive. As for me, I have a personal agenda with the Greeks, who took the European title away from Gilles Tas and me this year,” jokes Patrick Demesmaeker, who planned to participate in the World Championships for this class in Sarasota, FL, on October 12-19, but finally gave priority to the St. Barth Cata-Cup.
“With my professional obligations it is impossible to do everything, there just isn’t enough time. So I decided to come to Saint Barth rather than the United States. The event has become a real tradition for me. I like the location as well as the hospitality we receive. And we see a lot of friends. All the ingredients come together so nicely, that we want to come back every year. It’s as simple as that,” says the Belgian sailor, who also likes the unique atmosphere of this event.
Newcomers On The Starting Line
According to Thierry Berry, the new president of St. Barth Multihulls, the non-profit association that organizes the competition, it is understood that everything will be organized as best as possible to welcome the sailors to Saint Barth, in conjunction with the popular Nikki Beach, but to also create fantastic regattas in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
“The format of the regatta is acclaimed by the racers. Many veterans return, and the new ones that come every year, become in turn, the regulars,” explains Thierry Berry, who will welcome quite a few new names for the 11th edition, including Australians Gavin Colby and Jayden Dalton, Italians Giovanni Fanstasia, Davide Recalcati, Annibale Bovenzi, Antonio Delle’Omo Beneduce, and Alessandro Scotto from Greece, who will sail in this event with Marc Pirinoli, who represented Italy in the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and in Atlanta in 1996 in the Tornado class.
“The racing promises once again to be very close and provide a great spectacle. After a difficult year post-IRMA, the 2019 season should be one of renewal and we are very happy that the St. Barth Cata-Cup will be the first event, with the St. Barth Gourmet Festival, to open the tourist season,” concludes the president.
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November, 18 2018
The fourth and final day of the 11th St. Barth Cata Cup was expected to be decisive, at least for second and third place. But things turned out completely differently than anticipated. The reason? A huge mistake made by the Greeks, Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (St Barth Assurances). In fact, well on their way to a fifth straight race win, and first place in the overall rankings, the current world champions took the marker in the wrong direction. A mistake they won’t soon forget as it pushed them from first to fourth place. Yet this error worked to the advantage of duo Enrique Figueroa and Ruben Booth (Nikki Beach St Barth), winners of the “MARCHE U” Grand Prize, and especially for the tandem of Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St Barth), who at the end of the day, shot to the top step of the podium and became the big winners of this regatta, repeating their 2015 victory. They have now joined Misha Heemskerk and Eduard Zanen in the very small circle of double winners for this event.
November, 17 2018
Winds between 15 and 18 knots, seas much calmer than earlier this week, and a big tropical sun: this third day of competition for the 11th St. Barth Cata Cup saw almost ideal sailing conditions, allowing the committee to launch two great races. Both were hard-fought but finally won by Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (St Barth Assurances) who, since their unfortunate error during the first race, which earned them an 11th place, have been seemingly untouchable. In fact, these current world champions have been sailing perfect races. So this evening they are not only the winners of the Grand Prix “ST BARTH ASSURANCES-ALLIANZ,” but have also moved to the top of the provisional ratings, making a serious bid for an ultimate victory. Yet to succeed in that bid for a second consecutive win, the title holders have to remain vigilant, because hot on their heels, the competition is coming on strong. The proof is in the pudding: the five top boats in the overall ratings are within 11 points. Which means that the final race on Sunday, from Saint Jean to Public, will be the deciding factor.
November, 16 2018
On Friday, the second day of competition for the 11th St. Barth Cata Cup, the weather conditions made life difficult, not only for the race committee, which had to adapt the schedule in relationship to passing rain showers, and as a result could not start the day’s race until 3:30pm, but also for the racers who had to cope with winds between 20 and 25 knots and chaotic seas during the only race of the day. In these challenging conditions, basically similar to the previous day, logically the same teams were at the head of the class. And the triple stars of the day? Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (St Barth Assurances), Argentineans Pablo Volker and Sergio Mehl (Paraboot by Maxwell & Co), and Belgians Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St Barth). These three duos engaged in a remarkable battle right up to the last tack, and if the current world champions finally won the Grand Prix “EDEN ROCK VILLA RENTAL,” the South Americans held on to their first place in the provisional ratings for the regatta at the end of day two. These ratings are a bit upside down at the moment, due to a large number of boats that were forced to abandon: only 29 of the 51 that started actually crossed the finish line in the regatta’s third race.
November, 16 2018
The 11e edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup got off to a flying start on Thursday, since as expected, the weather conditions brought high winds, between 16 and 20 knots, but which allowed the committee to launch two races. The first was in the bay of St Jean, and the second, which was longer, between the islets of Tortue and Bœuf. If there were many unexpected maneuvers and some radical departures from the course, or in the case of the duo Kévin Gréaux— Hervé Brin (SBDE) who finished with a mast bent in two, the battle toward the finish was spectacular, especially for those in the front. In the end, if the Belgians Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St Barth) and the Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis (St Barth Assurances) each earned a victory, the first place after day one goes to Argentineans Pablo Volker et Sergio Mehl (Paraboot by Maxwell & Co), who sailed strong and steady to win second place in both races and are thus the winners of the Grand Prix “DESIGN AFFAIRS-OO1.”
15 Novembre 2018
Among the 102 sailors taking part in the 11th edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup, which set sail on Thursday November 15, there are both professionals and amateurs, athletes from the four corners of the globe. Among the amateurs is Léo Jordil, whose father Vincent is one of the original organizers of the regatta. This year is the first time that Léo’s busy schedule has allowed him to participate in this event, and for his baptism by fire, the Saint Barth native chose Arnaud Camoin as his partner, although they usually sail together on a very different kind of boat, the 15 M JI Tuiga, flagship of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
November, 14 2018
After a day dedicated to preparing boats, confirming registrations, and training, the 51 crews representing the 11 nations participating in the 11th edition of St.Barth Cata Cup are ready to set sail. In fact as of Thursday, at 10am, they will attack the first race of the challenge. A challenge that promises to be especially vigorous, with winds coming from the east at 20 to 25 knots—at least for the first two days of the competition. Enough to guarantee some stylistic fireworks as well as a great show put on by the grand champions such as the Greeks Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis, current world champions back to defend their Cata Cup title, and at least 10 other duos who would like to give them a run for their money and take first place. And yes, this year once again, the level of the competition is very high, and the expected high winds could create some unexpected surprises.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
As the 11th edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup rapidly approaches, the organizers are busy getting ready to enthusiastically welcome the 60 teams expected for the event, including last year’s winners, Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis. This Greek duo, recently crowned Formula 18 World Champions in Sarasota, Florida, will try to defend their title and once again be victorious at the Cata Cup. Yet, to do so, there could be some choppy waters, as the competition not only comprises other teams who finished in the Top 15 at the Worlds in Florida, but also some top-name competitors —champions aboard sports catamaran or in other sailboat classes— including: Australian Gavin Colby; Noé Delpech, world vice-champion 2018 in the 49er class; or Morgan Lagravière, winner of the Cata Cup in 2014, and who has been racing recently on the 60 ft. IMOCA circuit. These ace sailors have just confirmed their participation or been given wild cards, to compete a roster that was already impressive, and only continues to get better! Iordanis Paschalidis and Konstantinos Trigonis, F18 World Champions
Tuesday, October 8, 2018
With the 11th edition of the St. Barth Cata-Cup setting sail just a month and a half from now, the organizers are getting everything ready to properly welcome the competitors. In Europe, on the last Friday in September, nine boats were loaded into a sea container that left Hyères to cross the ocean toward the Caribbean, while two other large metal cases with a total of 19 Formula 18 cats will be ready to leave on October 10 from Gravelines. The plan is for them all to arrive the week before the regatta in Gustavia. This is perfect timing so that the 55 duos registered to date, as well as two tandems with wild card status—Mitch and Rita Booth and Enrique Figueroa and Ruben Booth—to get their bearings out on the water before moving on to the more serious task at hand.
September 5, 2018
The 11th edition of the St. Barth Cata-Cup takes place on November 14-18, 2018. There are already no less than 55 crews representing 14 nations that have confirmed their registration for this event that is reserved for Formula 18 catamarans. Among them, there are those regulars who would not miss this regatta no matter what, such as Emmanuel Boulogne, Patrick Demesmaeker, Olivier Gagliani, Pierre Le Clainche, Antoine Joubert, and the duo of Iordanis Paschalidis and Kontantinos Trigonis, who would like to once again sail across the finish line in first place. There are also “smaller newcomers” attracted by the concept and the resoundingly convivial ambiance of this competition—a competition perfectly scheduled on the racing calendar to allow, on one hand, participants to finish their season in the tropical sun, and on the other hand, launch the island’s tourist season in a great way.
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