Press releases
Right Side Up And Upside Down
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.
The weather forecast was not promising today, especially this morning. That proved to be true, with the arrival of several rain showers that quickly caused the race committee to delay the starting time on this second day of racing. Even so, the conditions were still pretty rough for the sailors in St. Barth Cata Cup. “Clearly there was enough wind—even more than yesterday. At times, it was almost too much. I am especially thinking of the little tack after the first marker, at which time there was so much wind we all crossed our fingers to avoid flying off the water and we all hung on as best we could to stay put,” explains Olivier Gagliani, who actually proved his mettle out there today, battling from start to finish with the duos of Iordanis Paschalidis—Konstantinos Trigonis and Pablo Volker—Sergio Mehl. “It was quite a battle between the three of us. The Argentineans at one point led the fleet, before being passed by the Greeks during the second upwind tack. They had started out gently before accelerating the cadence at the end of the race, conversely to Patrick and me, as we applied the brakes as we approached the finish line to ensure our place, as we had a good lead over the fourth-place boat,” points out the winner of the 2015 Cata Cup, who actually had Pierre Le Clainche—Antoine Joubert (ODP) hot on his heels at one point. “They passed the second buoy with us, but after that they must have had a problem,” comments Olivier.
“Challenging but fun”
Those in the race agree: “When we were battling with the trio in the lead and had a bit of an advance on the others, after a jibe, I didn’t even have time to get back in the strap and I was projected forward before I had time to ease the jib. Result: we capsized,” points out Antoine Joubert, who evidently lost a few places in the battle, but who came back and climbed up a few spots to finish sixth and as the first French team. “Today, as noted Trois Pommes (Olivier Gagliani), it was a bit challenging, but it was fun,” declared the Frenchman from the department of Morbihan in Brittany, who was the winner of the 2016 St. Barth Cata Cup and who hopes to repeat that performance this year, even if the task will be a little more arduous in light of the competition, starting with Argentineans Pablo Volker and Sergio Mehl who took second place this afternoon, as they did in the two races on Thursday. “We are happy to place second, but we know we can’t just sit back!” assure the F18 sailors sporting the colors of Paraboot by Maxwell & Co, and who still hold the leader’s spot in the provisional standing this evening.
Patrick Carro (Interdist)
Out Today, Back Tomorrow
“Obviously we are satisfied but we are especially pleased as we once again had a great day and a great race, even if we honestly clenched our teeth two or three times, as to not capsize. We occasionally found ourselves facing a wall of water and it’s true that scared us a little. In any case, we had a great time,” relates Sergio Mehl, who was not very surprised to learn that only 29 boats finally finished the race of the day. In fact, between those who preferred to not brave the bad weather and decided to stay ashore, and those who encountered damage to their boats, the number abandons almost set a record, and not only with the least experienced sailors, as witnessed by the problems met by some of the heavy hitters, and in particular two favorites who broke their masts: Enrique Figueroa and Ruben Booth (Nikki Beach St Barth), as well as Christian Vilate and Lucas Smith Gonzales (Transit by Maxwell & Co). In short, this was a rather unusual day, but tomorrow good weather is expected (winds at around 15 knots and seas a little more well behaved), and once four races have been completed, each crew can erase their worst performance from their average and that might make things look a little different…
Schedule: Saturday November 17
- 8:45am-9am: “Wake Me Up” with Geoffrey Personal Trainer
- 9am: Briefing for Prix “ST BARTH ASSURANCES–ALLIANZ”
- 10am: Priz “ST BARTH ASSURANCES–ALLIANZ” race
- 12pm-1:30pm: Lunch at NIKKI BEACH
- 2:30pm: Prix “ST BARTH ASSURANCES–ALLIANZ” race
- 8pm: Announcing of results for Prix “ST BARTH ASSURANCES-ALLIANZ”
- Dinner at NIKKI BEACH
- 10pm: Free concert open to the public at NIKKI BEACH with JEAN-PHILIPPE MARTHELY
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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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