Following yesterday’s King’s Cup charity event between the Royal Yacht Squadron and the RC44 class — where Team Aqua claimed victory, as reported by Afloat — the 44Cup fleet returned to championship racing in unseasonably fine conditions.
The 12-15 knot south-easterly breeze allowed the race committee to set a windward-leeward course in the Solent’s North Channel, but strong tidal influences ensured a highly tactical opening day.
Team Nika, the defending World Champions and five-time titleholders, made the strongest start by winning the opening race.
“We managed to get a really good start and went the right way, and the boat's going really well — so the first race was relatively straightforward,” said Team Nika tactician Nic Asher.
Nika’s First Strike — Defending champions Team Nika launch into the 44Cup World Championship Cowes, where Nic Asher’s crew opened the regatta with a race victory before a tightly fought opening day on the Solent. Photo: Nico Martinez
“But in the next two…it’s a tricky fleet, and if you make a couple of mistakes, you're out the back. So we'll take that win, but we need to get back on form for the rest of the event.”
The defending champions finished the day with a race win but couldn't maintain their early advantage across the remaining races.
Solent tactics decide opening battles
The tidal Solent once again proved a major factor, with teams forced to balance wind shifts against changing current patterns.
“We had current against, and it was slowly dying through the day, so it made the left-hand side pay in the first race for sure,” explained Asher. “Some of the shifts were really relevant, although the next two races were a bit more open. It was tricky to understand if the current was going to impact or the wind.”
Local knowledge also played a part, with Jules Salter assisting Team Nika from the chase boat during the championship.
The Wow! Sailing Team, fresh from having Duran Duran lead singer Simon Le Bon on board during yesterday’s King’s Cup, enjoyed a strong opening race with Murat Edin steering, finishing second.
Aleph Racing then moved to the front of the championship standings after winning race two.
Helmsman Pietro Loro Piana, competing in Cowes for the first time, praised the venue. “I have to say I'm truly impressed — I'm very happy to be here. Cowes is delivering a beautiful week of weather,” he said.
Championship Charge — The 44Cup fleet accelerates into racing on the Solent as Aleph Racing, GeMera Racing and Team Aqua emerged separated by just one point after the opening day. Photo: Nico Martinez
Team Aqua converts final race into victory
Event host Chris Bake’s Team Aqua, which featured in Afloat’s earlier coverage of the King’s Cup, recovered from narrowly missing out in race two to claim the final race victory of the day. The result was again built from a strong start.
“I think we managed to get a decent start and get off the line well, and that put us ahead on the first leg,” said Bake. “We had a few boats chomping at our tail, but managed to stay ahead, and that was a nice result.”
Aqua Advantage — Chris Bake’s Team Aqua powered through the final race of day one to claim victory and stay within one point of the leaders after three races. Photo: Sailing Energy
With the RC44 World Championship taking place in Cowes at the end of a landmark sailing season for the venue, Bake highlighted the significance of the event.
“The World Championship is special for everyone, and celebrating it here in Cowes at the end of the Cowes Week Bicentenary, and what's been a huge summer here, with some phenomenal weather and some phenomenal sailing — just being here and able to close off this year with this event is very meaningful.”
Aleph, GeMera and Aqua separated by one point
After three races, Aleph Racing leads the standings on countback from Markus Törnqvist’s GeMera Racing, with both teams on the same points and just one point ahead of Team Aqua.
Tide Turners — The 44Cup fleet lines up for battle in Cowes as tidal shifts and changing breeze created a tactical opening day for the World Championship contenders. Photo: Nico Martinez
Aleph tactician Michele Ivaldi said the opening day result had kept the team firmly in contention.
“We didn't take ourselves out of the competition,” he said. “With three more days to go and the fleet being extremely competitive, you cannot say anything is ‘in the bank’ until the last race on Sunday.”
Racing continues on the Solent through Sunday, with the 44Cup World Championship decided after the final races.
