2009 Six Meter International World Cup - Sailing Now in Newport

SAILING now in Newport, the 2009 Six Meter International World Cup.

Among my top 10 reasons to live in Newport - this is one. Not in order, but by discovery.
I discovered this event as I drove along Ocean Avenue, I passed several beautiful sailboats - all of the same size - 6 meters, sailing around Brenton Reef, at the entrance to the channel of Narragansett Bay, between Beavertail and Castle Hill. The boats were just cruising at the time, some heading up the bay and some heading out, they are spectacular.

The daily ebb and flow of living on the coast is familiar, the fishing boats and pleasure boats arriving and departing, the QE2 and tankers, and then it suddenly changes, there is an explosion of sails.... and it unfurls without having been part of it, or aware of the planning and coordinating, it happens on another level, on another playing field.....a waterworld, a sailing playground for those fortunate enough to be aboard and involved.

For anyone who wishes to be a part of this sailing world in Newport get involved at Sail Newport!

For the armchair sailors among us, here are the official Day 1 and Day 2 race reports:


Day 2 Race Report2009 Newport 6mR World Cup1900hrsNEWPORT, RI (Sept. 9, 2009) - Today's weather tested the metal (and wood) of competitors in the second day of racing of the 2009 Newport 6mR World Cup.
The northerly brought wind speeds averaging 18-22 knots with gusts of up to 25 knots toward the late afternoon. After a short postponement to allow the ebbing current to settle the rough sea state, a 6 nm course was set northwest of Gould Island.
In the Modern Division it was Scoundrel's (GBR-96) day, skippered by Rob Gray who said, "We had a great start, we only tacked three times and gybed twice for the entire race. Lots of extra maneuvers bring mistakes, which we wanted to avoid today."
Tuesday's winner, Sophie II (SWE-132) helmed by Hugo Stenbeck took second with Patric Fredell's May BE XIV (SWE-114) finishing third. After two days of racing Scoundrel and Sophie II are tied in first place with 3 points, followed by May Be XIV with 9 points and Finnegan (US-123) and Arunga (US-118) with 10 points each.
Owing to magnificent boat handling on the challenging final downwind leg with a building breeze Gallant (KC-10) skippered by Eric Jespersen won the Classic Division. Postle and Pope's Titia (GBR-22) took second place with TP Kolijonen-Astrand's Fridolin (FIN-12) coming in third today. Today's win places Gallant first overall in the division with 4 points; Totem (US-51), Goose (US-81) and Saskia II (KC-19) share a three-way tie for second with 9 points each. The strong northerly breeze is forecast to continue for tomorrow's races.

Day 1 Race Report2009 Newport 6mR World Cup1900hrsNEWPORT, RI (Sept. 9, 2009) - The 6 Metres got off to a slow start today on the first day of the 2009 Six Metre International World Cup. The initial race was abandoned after a northerly breeze died out. By mid-afternoon, however, a light southerly breeze filled in and enabled the Classic and Modern classes to complete their first race of the five-day series. A fleet of approximately 30 spectator and support boats were on hand to watch the thirty-four yachts from 11 countries sail the windward/leeward course. The Modern and Classic Classes had separate starts. In the Modern Division Sophie II (SWE-132) skippered by Hugo Stenbeck won the race by picking off Scoundrel (GBR-96) helmed by Rob Gray at the finish. Andy Parker’s Finnegan (US-123) took third in the only race of the day.
In the Classic Division, relative sailing newcomer, Jesse Smith of Jamestown, RI took first place in his first World Cup competition sailing with his local crew onboard Totem (US-51). It was a good day for the North Americans as second place went to Peter Hofmann’s Goose (US-81) and Gallant (KC-10), helmed by Eric Jespersen took third. Heavier breeze will be welcomed tomorrow, as competitors who have traveled and brought boats from three other continents, chomp for more races. The Race Commmittee will decide early whether to send the fleet to the alternate course North of Newport Bridge to keep the fleet racing inside Narragansett Bay.

PHOTOS courtesty of Onne Van Der Wal