Sailing yacht Timoneer wins light-airs gybing duel at Dubois Cup 2011 Luck, judgement and light airs conspired to create classic competition during Race 2 of the 2011 Dubois Cup. Veteran cruising yacht Timoneer took full advantage of contrary conditions and fickle breezes that ought not to have favoured the heavier boats, and took both line honours and the overall prize.
Timoneer wins Dubois Cup - Image by Rick Tomlinson
“You’ve got to be either clever or lucky to do what we did, and today we were both,” said her jubilant skipper and helmsman, Phil Wade.
Off to a prompt midday start off Sardinia’s Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the eight-yacht fleet of Dubois-designed superyachts made an awe-inspiring spectacle as they set off on the pursuit event at three-minute intervals. Competition to windward was intense. Nostromo, second to start, was first to round the Monaci lighthouse, followed by the 50-metre Zefira, making up five places. Third to round the rocks was Ganesha, 39 metres, then the 41-metre Inmocean and Timoneer, 45 metres. The 57-metre Twizzle, the largest yacht in the fleet, led Drumbeat, 53 metres, and the 40-metre Tenaz.
Dubois-Cup 2011 - Image by Rick Tomlinson - Yachts Ganesha Zefira and Twizzle finishing the race
As the wind began to fail tacticians had crucial decisions to make. Timoneer gybed and took an inshore course that was to prove decisive as the rest of the superyacht fleet stood well out to sea as the wind began to falter.
Sailing Yacht Nostromo’s owner Andrew Cook admitted he was disappointed with the outcome. “We should have won this race,” he said. “Conditions favoured the lighter boats.” S/Y Twizzle was rewarded with fifth overall. “With hindsight, we might have made a few tactical errors,” her captain, Gordon Percy, conceded. ” The boss is disappointed. But this is only our third regatta – we’re still learning.”
The ultra-competitive sailing yacht Ganesha, 2009 Dubois Cup winner, sustained a five-minute penalty for crossing the start a few seconds early. “We put in ten gybes on the downwind leg, and missed third place by two minutes, including the penalty. So we learned a lot today,” said tactician Matt Humphries.”
“Events like this can be very educational and useful for the crew, as well as fun,” said the captain of sixth-placed Drumbeat, Michel Personnic. “But everybody wanted to beat Timoneer today.”
Dubois Cup 2011 Regatta results:
Race 1, Sunday 5 June: abandoned.
Race 2, Monday 6 June. Start time 12.00. YCCS course no. 3, 17 nautical miles
1st Timoneer
2nd Nostromo
3rd Zefira
4th Ganesha
5th Twizzle
6th Drumbeat
DNF Tenaz
DNF Inmocean
Trophies all round at the Dubois Cup Yacht Race:
Glittering prizes close ‘best ever’ Dubois Cup A glittering poolside prizegiving and dinner dance, complete with live jazz band, brought the curtain down on the 2011 Dubois Cup last night. Hailed as the most successful Cup so far, the superyacht regatta was hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
Presenting the trophies to participants – 14 magnificent craft, including two Dubois-designed motor yachts – Ed Dubois paid tribute to owners and crew for taking part and making the event one of the most relaxed, stylish and friendly on the superyacht circuit.
Every yacht received a hand-engraved black crystal bowl as a memento of the third Dubois Cup, in the superb sailing waters off Sardinia’s yachting capital, Porto Cervo. Those placed first, second and third in the racing were also presented with trophies from the YCCS. Overall winner and 2011 Cup holder was Timoneer, who received the Dubois Cup, a sculpted carbon-fibre sail designed by Dubois Naval Architects. The beautifully-sailed Nostromo was second while the sleek and powerful Zefira took third place.
The competitive sloop Ganesha was awarded for her participation in all three Dubois Cups so far, and after inviting all owners and captains aboard to an impromptu cocktail party after the first race was abandoned, Twizzle was recognised for her hospitality. The new motor yacht Turquoise, easily the largest spectator craft, was singled out for being the latest addition to the Dubois fleet.
The 2011 Dubois Cup was also the launch platform for the Dubois Child Cancer Fund, a charity set up with the support of yacht owners in recognition of Minna Dubois, now aged ten and doing well, who was diagnosed in 2005 with neuroblastoma, a rare but invariably serious type of childhood cancer.
The fourth Dubois Cup will take place at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Sardinia in 2013.
