Bundock and Van Leeuwen Leaders On Day One

       Darren Bundock and Jeroen Van Leeuwen are the winners on this first day of regattas in the bay of Saint Jean. These two sailors succeeded in maintaining a lead over Franck Cammas and Mathieu Vandame for the second half of the race.

       The first race of the 2013 Saint Barth Cata Cup set sail today at 2:15pm (local time) with winds of 15 knots. These conditions added to the excitement of the sailing, making the battle primarily led by Bunduck, Cammas, and Hainneville even more fierce.

      The race committee, headed by Didier Flamme, created a great itinerary: the leaders finished in an hour and a half. The catamarans all set sail toward Pointe Milou, then toward the eastern end of Saint Barthélemy, in the direction of Ile Tortue, where the second marker was anchored. Next stop was near the small islet of Bonhomme, around the buoy at Flamands, and returning to Pointe Milou to cross the finish line.

      All systems united for a great race, as noted by the winner of the day’s Design Affairs Prize, Australian sailor Darren Bundock: “It was terrific. The water was warm and the sailing conditions were good, with almost 15 knots of winds from the northeast, and good waves… I usually sail in Australia. I must admit that the conditions here are a lot more agreeable.”

The race was decided close to the end. Franck Cammas lead the fleet as far as the second buoy, after which he headed farther from the coast but this option did not pay off, and for the Australian who took over the lead right to the finish line.

      At 7pm, the teams in the race were presented at Nikki Beach and the results of the Design Affairs Prize were announced at a reception with sponsors, participants, and organizers.

      Johannes Zingerle, representative of Design Affairs, and architectural firm based in both Saint Barthélémy and Miami, was present at the various stages of the regatta, in spite of his very busy schedule. “We have believed in this event since its debut,” he says. “Thierry Lhinarès, president of Saint Barth Multihulls the association that organizes the Cata Cup is a friend. Our relationship made me want to get involved at a major level in this project, and to also contribute to the evolution of sports in Saint Barthélémy. I do not race, but I love to see these boats on the water!” And all those on shore are guaranteed a great spectacle during the regatta.

       Tomorrow there are two races sponsored by Saint Barth Assurances–Allianz: one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Then next meeting for the skippers is a 9am briefing at the race village.