They arrived to Punta Ala coming from the other site of the World and they conquered everybody with their enthusiasm and their sympathy. Directly from the Country of Russell Coutts, the team “Oceanbridge” from New Zealand made the Platu 25 World Championship more international, together with the Thailandese boat and Japanese teams “Bros” of Noafumi kamei and “Lucky Lady VI” of Kenta Inaba.
From New Zealand are coming very good news regarding the Platu 25 National fleet: there were 11 new boats in Auckland in 2008 and the Saling Season overthere is getting more and more intensive. Also the situation in Japan and Thailand is quite good: some Japanese boats, specially “Bros”, don’t miss any International appointment; in their calendar there are still now the Primo Cup in Monte Carlo and the next Platu 25 World Championship in Alicante
As Edoardo Barni, Presidente of the International Platu 25 class, said : “Our class is more and more alive and it speaks more and more foreign languages, even the ones spoken in the antipodes. So, after the 2010 World Championship in Punta Ala and the 2011 World Championship in Austria, we decided to move towards East the centre of gravity .
We are considering to compete the 2012 World Championship in New Zealand - a Country with a big sail tradition - or in Thailand where the local fleet is very active.
The Kiwi fleet, together with the Thailandese and the Japanese ones, are becoming an important benchmark for the Platu 25 class. It’s not by chance that, for the first time, there were a New Zealander and a Thailandese boat in Italy during the World Championship in Punta Ala. For all these reasons we decides to move the centre of gravity towards East in 2012“.
OCEANBRIDGE. FOCUS ON THE NEW ZEALANDERS
Enthusiasm, perseverance and a strong knowledge supported by one of the most prestigious sail tradition in the World. These elements are the caracteristics of “Oceanbridge” team composed by Simon Dickie, Helmsman; Andrew Barron Main and tactics, Fredrik Green, trim; David Cosgrove Pit and Keyboard and Martyn Baker bowman.
World Championship in Punta Ala was an important test for the crew, as Andrew Barron underlined: “We started the regatta well, we regret not having enough experience in big fleets, and we did not start to feel comfortable starting amongst 50 boats until the end of the regatta. We also would have liked more time racing and tuning in the boat that we chartered as we felt a lack of boat speed towards the end of the regatta particularly in the heavier breezes upwind.
By the end of day 3 we began to think that we might not get into the top 3, it was difficult for us having come from the other side of the world to compete in a chartered boat, and once there was more breeze we were guessing a lot on the rig set up, I think that we lacked some boat speed upwind when it was windier on the last two days because of unfamiliarity of the boat and rig set up“.
According to him, World Championship in Punta Ala was a great experience. “We were very much enjoyed the atmosphere of the regatta, a lot of things contributed to that; location was great and the facilities provided by the marina and yacht clubs were excellent. The large international Fleet from all over Europe and Asia, and some good sailing conditions. We were also proud to be representing New Zealand at such a big regatta in Europe
For “Oceanbridge” there are important projects for the future: “Now that we have come back from our first trip to Europe to compete in the Platu Worlds at Punta Ala we will take some time to consider what we want to achieve in the future. Our immediate goals are the New Zealand Keel-boat nationals which are being held in the Platu 25 in early November.
We will continue to race in New Zealand over summer in club racing and do the Platu National Championships next February or March here in Auckland”.
Of course Andrew Barron would be very pleased if New Zealand hosted the 2012 World Championship. “We have an amazing venue here for a regatta like the World Championships, with all the facilities and yacht clubs to be able to make it a good success. It is something we would very much like to see because it will boost the class massively here in New Zealand, at present we have 10 boats out racing, but we would like to get it up to 20-30. To have a World Championships in Auckland New Zealand would be the ideal way to create momentum and achieve this. Myself and Simon Dickie will be talking to our yacht clubs over the next few weeks, and our sponsor Oceanbridge (an international freight company) about the possibilities. We look forward to have the chance to cooperate with the European Platu Associations to discuss having a regatta here“.
Press Office sabrinabonaiti@libero.it
For more information: www.oceanbridgeracing.com
PHOTO: Jesús Renedo www.sailingstock.com
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