Aleph Racing Reads the Tide to Win the Only Race in Cowes

Nico Martínez / 44Cup

Aleph Racing won the only race of the second day at the 44Cup World Championship in Cowes, spotting a turn in the tide that the rest of the fleet missed. Pietro Loro Piana’s team now leads Team Aqua by four points after four races.

The RC44 fleet waited most of the day for wind. A northerly of more than 10 knots shifted 60 degrees to the right and then died. Race officer Maria Torrijo held the fleet until a southwesterly filled in, and the only start of the day came near Lepe Middle at 16:40, in 14 knots from 230 degrees.

The race was sailed through the turn of the tide, and that decided it. Black Star Sailing Team led early after going left on the first beat with two other boats.

“There were only three of us going left but when we tacked, it was clear we’d made a big gain,” said Black Star tactician Cameron Dunn.

Aleph’s tactician Michele Ivaldi saw the change coming. “Then on the second upwind, we saw that the tide had changed in the main channel so we went all the way to the right and we made a good gain and passed Black Star.”

Dunn admitted he had considered the same move. “I wanted to go right, but everyone was going left, except for Aleph, and so we decided to stick with the numbers. Credit to them. They made a big gain because of the way the current had got less.”

Black Star finished second. “I’m thankful that the race officers were patient to wait and to send us out again,” said helmsman Christian Zuerrer. “We had a beautiful race, sunset sailing.”

Aleph leads on 10 points, with Team Aqua second on 14 and Markus Törnqvist’s GeMera Racing third on 17. Artemis Racing, Team Nika and Black Star are all within two points of GeMera. Türkiye’s WOW! Sailing Team finished fifth in the race and is seventh overall on 24 points.

The forecast for the third day is light, and the race officer has already pushed the start back by one hour. “Tomorrow looks pretty marginal, real soft and there’s no isobars around,” Dunn said.