Open Season (Wally class) and Jethou (M72) lead the game in Menorca

Thomas Bscher’ Open Season won both today's two races in Day 1 of Menorca Maxi 2015. Sir Peter Ogden' Jethou now leads the Maxi 72 fleet.

Menorca Maxi Regatta 2015 started today the waters off Mahon, Menorca, with light winds from north. The Race Committee anyway managed to sail two windward /leeward races. The fight, both in the Wally and Maxi 72 classes, has been tenacious since the first start of the day, showing an amazing sight in the turquoise waters of Menorca and its cliffs.

The Wally class -  12 boats on the start line - has shown the elegance of its lines on a windward-leeward race by the biggest Wally in the fleet: Thomas Bscher’s Open Season, with Jochen Schümann as tactician, won both today' race 1 and 2. Newcomer Lyra, with John Cutler on board, finished the day in second position.

On the other hand, provisional results for Maxi 72 fleet see Jethou, owned by Sir Peter Ogden - with Brad Butterworth calling tactics - leading the fleet, two points ahead of second placed Momo.
Dieter Schön’s Maxi 72 Momo, with Markus Wieser as tactician, won race 1, while Jethou won Race 2.

OPEN SEASON IN THE WALLY CLASS

Since the starting gun fired the fleet of 12 Wallys made it clear that they were all in Menorca to win and that the fight was left open at that moment. On one hand, Thomas Bscher’s Open Season and Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones Magic Carpet 3 set their own race choosing the right hand side of the race course in a close fight.

Open Season won Race 2, although very light wind condition delayed the start of this second race. The newcomer Lyra was the highlight of the day in a really worked race that provided them with a second position.

MOMO ACHIEVES THE VICTORY IN A PHOTO-FINISH ARRIVAL

The first race of the day had three teams as protagonists. Robertissima III, with Vasco Vascotto as tactician, began betting for the right side of the race course which took him to dominate the race followed by Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou. But the final surprise came from Dieter Schön’s Momo, who managed to take advantage of the wind dropping on the right hand side of the course and taking the left overtaking his two opponents. He then managed to clinch the victory just 100 meters before the finish line in a brilliant downwind leg. Jethou finally passed Robertissima III shortly before the finish.

Second race was for Jethou followed by Shockwave and Robertissima III.

Complete results are posted on:
Wally Class: http://menorcamaxi.com/resultados/resultados.php?ms=06&ln=uk&clase=01&year_input=2015
Maxi 72: http://menorcamaxi.com/resultados/resultados.php?ms=06&ln=uk&clase=03&year_input=2015

(Menorca Maxi Regatta 2015 press office: Helena de la Gandara)