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Three Top Contenders!
On Saturday, November 20, the 65 duoscompeting in the 13e edition of the St. Barth Cata Cup set sail on a tour around the island.This race counts double and cannot be removed when the race results are averaged, so it is of great importance. If the most disappointed duo of the day is Orion Martin and Charles Gate (Nikki Beach St Barth), who fell from third place to seventh in the provisional rankings, the biggest winners are certainly Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St Barth–Bativrd). Winnersof this important race, the Belgian duo took home the “ST BARTH ASSURANCES–ALLIANZ” Prize, and at the same time jumped to first place on the eve of the last day of racing. Will they win a tour de force by becoming the first team to win this regatta for the third time, after their victories in 2015 and again in 2018? Nothing is set in stone as less than three points separate them from the duos of Cruz Gonzalez Smithz—Mariano Heuser (SBDE) and Gurvan Bontemps–Benjamin Amiot (Stickerman).
“Today’s tour around the island was pretty complicated with high waves and a lot of unstable wind (between seven and 13 knots). It was hard to do one’s best. As far as Benjamin and I are concerned, we are disappointed with our results as we led for two-thirds of the race before finishing in third place,” notes Gurvan Bontemps, who was overtaken by Argentineans Cruz Gonzalez Smith and Mariano Heuser as well as Belgians Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani a little after passing Gustavia. “The wind came from behind. They arrived on the trapeze while we were struggling a little to advance the boat. And then the battle started up again as we were sailing faster, along with Augustin Krevisky and Juan Martin Benitez (Les Courants Faibles),” adds the Stickerman skipper, who had hoped to gain ground before the last two races on the program tomorrow. No such luck. “The game is still very, very close. There are three of us, more or less, with the same number of points heading into the last day of racing. We knew that this year it would be more difficult to win. But we are happy to be right in the race. Sunday will really be exciting!,” predicts Gurvan.
Racing For The Win!
The final day of competition will be of major importance. A decisive day to be sure, since the provisional rankings after five races, finds the three leaders within a nose, and any one of them could snatch the final victory. “We know it is going to be tough on our nerves. We are all going to try and control each other. That will be the key. We are obviously very happy to be in the lead at this point in the race, but we also know that it’s easier to attack than defend your position,” points out Patrick Demesmaeker, winner of the legendary tour of the island. “We are happy with the way we sailed. We had a good start and have been constantly in the top four or five. After passing Gustavia, our rivals decided to jibe while we made the decision to continue along the coast. An option that paid off because we succeeded to reach Bœuf without tacking and gained a little advance that we held onto right to the end,” added the skipper of Les Perles de St Barth–Bativrd, who mounted one of the best attacks of the day, jumping from fourth to first place in the overall provisional rankings.
All Is Still In Play
Even if he might not appreciate all the weight on his shoulders, the Belgian, who placed ninth in the last world championships for F18 last July with Gilles Tas, is aware he might be on the verge of doing something really special, with Olivier, to be the first to score a third victory in the Cata Cup. And yet, the Argentineans Cruz Gonzalez Smith and Mariano Heuser and the Frenchmen Français Gurvan Bontemps and Benjamin Amiot have surely not thrown in the towel. All three duos have been chasing the victory for several years and don’t want to give up hope for this year. There is but a three-point spread. A myriad of scenarios is possible. Even the most improbables. Stay tuned!
Results
Prize Saint Barth Assurances - Allianz
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24/11/2024
After literally crushing the competition at the F18 World Championships on the Costa Brava last summer, Pablo Volkër & Federico Polimeni (Saint-Barth Assurances) were naturally among the top contenders at 16th édition of the St.Barth Cata Cup. While they lived up to their reputation by winning the first race of this regatta, they met with some stiff competition from their adversaries, in particular Patrick Demesmaeker & Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St Barth – Bativrd). Behind the Belgians by three slim points at the dawn of the day of the final race, the Spaniards prevailed and sailed to victory, succeeding Ravi Parent & Nicolas Lovisa as winners of this regatta!
23/11/2024
This week, it has been impossible to predict what might happen in terms of the weather conditions in Saint Barthélemy. Actually, there was more wind than predicted on Thursday and Friday, which allowed the race committee for the St.Barth Cata Cup to validate four races, against all odds, but the reverse played out on Saturday. Even if the wind was less constant than expected, it was possible for the 53 duos in competition to sail one good race between the Bay of Saint Jean and the small islands of Pelé and Le Boulanger. A race whose results tightened the difference between the leaders in the overall standings. Case in point, in the lead, Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St. Barth – Bativrd) are now only three small points in advance of Pablo Volkër and Federico Polimeni (Saint-Barth Assurances), winners of the “ St Barth Assurances Allianz” Prize. To win their bet of being the first team to add their names to the winners list of the regatta for the third time, the Belgians do not have the slightest room for error on Sunday!
22/11/2024
“If you listen to the weather forecast, you’ll spend your life in the bistro,” as the famous French saying goes. The organizers of the St.Barth Cata Cup once again proved that one shouldn’t depend the previsions. Cautious this morning, they sent out the first race, followed by a second identical one, and finally a third, longer course, in the afternoon, taking the best advantage of every light wind available. Like yesterday, the conditions forced the sailors to display a great deal of concentration and finesse. A little consistency as well, as the rather unstable wind dealt some interesting hands. In this context, Australians Ruben Booth and Joan Costa (Kiton) proved the most constant, taking home “EDEN ROCK VILLA RENTAL” Prize, but in the previsionary standings, Belgians Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St-Barth) have the advantage, having sailing to victory in two of the three races.
21/11/2024
In spite of rather pessimistic weather predictions for Thursday, November 21, the organizers of the 16th edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup did everything possible to make the best of light wind. As a result, they didn't miss the only small window of opportunity of the day, enabling the 53 crews in the competition to complete their first race between Saint Jean Bay and Roche Le Boeuf. It was a particularly tactical leg, which did not rattle the favorites. As proof, Spaniards Pablo Völker and Federico Polimeni (Saint-Barth Assurances) sailed to victory. However, these reigning Formula 18 world champions had their work cut out for them. Under pressure in the final lengths by Belgians Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani (Les Perles de St-Barth), they won by a nose!
20/11/2024
After the final day of training on Wednesday, the 54 duos registered for the 16th edition of the St.Barth Cata Cup are anxious to enter into the action, yet it seems as if the first races could be extremely tactical. If we are to believe the weather forecast, it is probable that the first confrontations will take place with very light wind, requiring a great deal of finesse on the part of the sailors. One hopes this does not mean that the first races must be postponed due to an insufficient amount of wind to ensure good racing conditions. It that scenario were to play out, it was be a first since the debut of the regatta in 2008. At the moment, the competitors are not too worried and are hoping for a pleasant surprise as the weather forecast has been far from reality most of the past week!
15/11/2024
In just one week, the starting signal for the 16th edition of the St. Barth Cata Cup will be given. As of now, no fewer than 54 teams are registered for the competition, including Pablo Völker and Federico Polimeni, the Spanish sailors who won gold at the Formula 18 World Championships last July. Participating together in the event for the very first time, they will face the top specialists of the class, most of whom are seasoned veterans of the event. In this context, will they manage to display the same dominance on the Caribbean waters from November 21 to 24 as they did on the Costa Brava last summer? That remains to be seen. Firstly, because the race format—characterized by long-distance courses—is quite unique; secondly, because the sailing area around Saint-Barthélemy is extremely technical and full of pitfalls; and finally, because there are many competitors aiming to succeed the Americans Ravi Parent and Nicholas Lovisa, starting with Parent and Lovisa themselves!
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