Displaying items by tag: Tschüss 2

19th April 2024

Irish Crew on Volvo 70 Tschuss 2 Break Round Isle Of Wight IRC Speed Sailing Record

The Volvo 70 Tschuss 2, skippered by Johnny Mordaunt and with a large Irish crew onboard, has broken the Round Isle Of Wight sailing record with a corrected time of six hours, 22 minutes, and 25 seconds.

Wednesday's record bid was completed in an elapsed time: 03 hours, 55 minutes, and 55 seconds.

Owner Christian Zugel was on board, along with crew members Chris Welch, Nin O’Leary, Stu Bannatyne, Neal MacDonald, Cian Guilfoyle, Freddy Shanks, Al Fraser, Alex Higby, Tristan Seal, Simon Johnson, Stefano Nava, Campbell Field, and Jack Lawrence.

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8th July 2023

Howth Skipper Johnny Mordaunt Sets New Race Record in Cowes Dinard St Malo Race on Royal Cork Volvo 70 Tschüss 2

Royal Cork Yacht Club member Christian Zugel, racing Volvo 70 Tschüss 2, skippered by Howth's Johnny Mordaunt, has set a new Monohull Race Record for the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race.

Tschüss 2 completed the 151nm course in an elapsed time of 10 hours 56 minutes 18 seconds.

The record has stood for eight years, having been set by Mike Slade’s Farr 100 Leopard 3 in 2015. Peter Morton’s Maxi 72 Notorious also broke the previous race record but was 44 minutes behind Tschüss 2.

Romain Pilliard’s 75ft Trimaran Use it again has taken Multihull Line Honours for the 2023 Cowes Dinard St Malo Race in an elapsed time of 11 hours 03 minutes 12 seconds, which is outside the Multihull Race Record.

The Monohull Line Honours win in the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race secures Tschüss 2 the Sandison Memorial Salver. However, the overall win after IRC time correction is yet to be decided.

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Tschüss 2

4th July 2023

Howth’s Mordaunt to Captain Tschüss 2 in RORC Cowes Dinard St Malo Race This Weekend

Dublin sailor Johnny Mordaunt is boat captain on the Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 for the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Cowes Dinard St Malo Race, which has attracted 204 boats with over 1,000 crew on board from 16 different nations.

This is the largest fleet for any offshore yacht race since the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. One hundred and ninety-one boats will be competing under the IRC Rating Rule for the overall win and the King Edward VII Cup, which dates back to 1906.

From about 2pm on Friday 7 July, the fleet will gather in the Central Solent outside Cowes with multiple starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line. Spectators can watch the start from Cowes Parade and along the shore of the Western Solent.

Henry Vergnoux’s Arabel lift the King Edward VII Cup | Credit: Steve Cole/RORC

The multihull race record was set in 2015 by Tony Lawson’s MOD70 Concise 10, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, Concise 10 set an incredible pace, finishing the 151-nautical-mile race in nine hours, 12 minutes and 35 seconds. The monohull race record was also set in 2015; Mike Slade’s Farr 100 Leopard scorched across the finish line in an elapsed time of 11 hours, 57 minutes and 53 seconds.

Returning to defend their overall win last year is Henry Vergnoux’s Classic Illingworth-designed 33ft sloop Arabel, which lifted the King Edward VII Cup in 2022. Arabel is proof that under IRC, any team that puts in a top performance and gets the rub of the green can win big trophies under IRC.

The Cowes Dinard St Malo is the final race for the inaugural IRC Two-Handed European Championship; the first leg is still in progress in the 350-mile La Trinité Cowes Race. An update of the double-handed teams vying for the championship will be released after the results are in for Leg One (La Trinité Cowes Race). The second leg to St Malo will feature 63 double-handed teams to decide the European Champion.

Mike Slade’s Farr 100 Leopard setting the Monohull Race Record for the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race in 2015 | Credit: Lloyd Images

The Cowes Dinard St Malo Race will start at 1500 BST on Friday 7 July. The first to go of the four starts will be the 75ft (23m) Irens/Cabaret-designed trimaran Use It Again. Skippered by Romain Pilliard, the record-breaking trimaran has been renovated with recycled fixtures and fittings.

Favourites for monohull line honours and the Sandison Memorial Salver are racing in IRC Super Zero. Peter Morton’s Maxi 72 Notorious and Christian Zugel’s Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 are both based in Cowes and both sailors are RORC members. The latter recently took line honours in the Round the Island Race and for this race also features onboard Simon Johnson, fresh off his duties on Black Star at the 44Cup in Maarstrand.

Eric de Turckheim’s NMD54 Teasing Machine | Credit: Tim Wright/RORC

IRC Zero

Eighteen boats are entered for IRC Zero with RORC vice commodore Eric de Turckheim’s NMD54 Teasing Machine looking to take the class win for the race for the third year in succession. Looking to stop his winning streak are two of the most high-tech IRC boats in the race: Niklas Zennstrom’s CF 520 Rán and RORC Commodore James Neville with his Carkeek 45 Ino Noir. Teasing Machine leads the class for the season, and the remainder of the current class podium will also be in action: Family De Graaf’s Ker 46 Baraka GP, and Mark Emerson’s A13 Phosphorus II.

Ed Bell’s JPK 1180 Dawn Treader | Credit: Paul Wyeth/RORC

IRC One

Forty boats are set for the race in IRC One, including the return of Géry Trentesaux with his new charge Sydney 43 Imagine, to be entered as Long Courrier later this month for Gery’s 17th Rolex Fastnet Race. Two teams with proven success in the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race are Ed Bell’s JPK 1180 Dawn Treader, class winner in 2021, and Jaques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon, class winner in 2019. The two top boats in IRC Two for the RORC Season’s Point Championship will be a force to be reckoned with: Michael O’Donnell’s J/121 Darkwood and RORC treasurer Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 Bulldog will be in the race.

François and Corentin Lognoné’s MC 34 Nutmeg Solidaire en Peloton | Credit: Paul Wyeth/RORC

IRC Two

Sixty-four boats are entered in IRC Two, including many of the IRC Two-Handed entries battling for the European Championship. Of the fully-crewed entries in IRC Two, François and Corentin Lognoné MC 34 Nutmeg Solidaire en Peloton was last year’s class winner and won the race overall in 2015. Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster, overall winner in 2019, will be racing, looking to score more points for the RORC Season’s Points Championship. Two fully-crewed Sun Fast 3600s that are in the top 10 for the season will be racing: Trevor Middleton’s Black Sheep; and the Army Sailing Association’s Fujitsu British Soldier, skippered by Wil Naylor.

Rob Cotterill’s J/109 Mojo Risin’ | Credit: Rick Tomlinson/RORC

IRC Three

The top three boats for the class this season are all in action for the 53-boat IRC Three Class: Sun Fast 3200 Cora, raced double-handed by Tim Goodhew and Kelvin Matthews; Mike Yates, skipper of J/109 Jago, two-handed with Wil Holland; and Rob Cotterill’s fully-crewed J/109 Mojo Risin’, skippered by Conrad Woodring. Cora has a massive 118-point lead for the season but is counting one additional race than Jago. Mojo Risin’ is third for the season by just 14 points from Chris Burleigh’s J/109 Jybe Talkin’ which will be racing to St Malo.

A total of nine J/109s are racing, producing a great competition within IRC Three, but they are not the only in-class skirmish. Of the 11 JPK 1010s, the leader for the season is Mark Brown’s Jetpack with a full crew from Gosport. Eleven Sun Fast 3200s are in action — seven are racing two-handed, including Cora, which is the favourite to be the first to St Malo of the double-handers.

Jonathan Rolls’ Swan 38 Xara | Credit: Paul Wyeth/RORC

IRC Four

Last year’s overall winner Arabel will be racing in IRC Four. Classic Swan 38 Xara, skippered by Jonathan Rolls was second last year and is back for the 2023 edition. The top two teams in IRC Four for the season will also be in action. Chris and Vanessa Choules’ With Alacrity leads the class for the RORC Season’s Points Championship. With Alacrity is one of four Sigma 38s racing to St Malo. In second place for the season, and one of the smallest boats in the race is Samuel Duménil’s JPK 960 Casamyas from Le Havre. Szymon Kuczynski’s Figaro One Hultaj is the smallest boat racing to St Malo at just 30ft (9.15m). However for Szymon, Hultaj is a large boat; he sailed his 20’6” (6.3m) sloop Atlantic Puffin solo around the world in 2018 to set a new world record. For the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race, Hultaj will be three-up with an all-Polish crew.

Szymon Kuczynski’s Figaro One Hultaj | Credit: Tim Wright/RORC

The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Cowes Dinard St Malo Race is the 12th race of the RORC Season’s Points Championship, the largest racing series in the world of offshore racing. The race is organised by the RORC in association with UNCL - Pôle Course du YCF, Yacht Club de Dinard, Société Nautique de la Baie de St Malo, Junior Offshore Group and the Royal Yacht Squadron.

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2nd July 2023

Line Honours and Gold Roman Bowl for Royal Cork’s Tschüss 2 in 2023 Round the Island Race

Royal Cork Yacht Club members Christian Zugel and wife Sonia Rohan took line honours in Cowes on Saturday (1 July) in this year’s Round the Island Race.

RCYC’s former Olympian Tom McWilliam also featured among the crew of their Volvo 70, Tschüss 2, which was the first monohull to finish in Saturday’s race — and was awarded the Gold Roman Bowl for first place under IRC.

The performance only adds to the pedigree of the boat, which won the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race as Wizard and the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 as Groupama.

The weather conditions could not have been better for Tschüss 2 — a strong breeze throughout the day and from the west enabling a spinnaker run from just before the Needles right the way to Bembridge.

Tschüss 2’s crew celebrate their line honours and award of the Gold Roman Bowl on arrival in Cowes | Credit: Royal Cork Yacht Club/Facebook

Tschüss 2 completed the course in four hours, 11 minutes and 18 seconds with the mini maxi Notorious crossing the line in second place finishing in four hours, 19 minutes and four seconds.

Christian Zugel, owner and skipper of Tschüss 2 said: “We are delighted with our race performance today and securing line honours is fantastic — what better way to start a new programme on our new boat! Great sailing, great competition and a fantastic welcome from the Island Sailing Club.”

Tschüss 2 had been training for more than a week on the Solent and a practice race around the Isle of Wight but they did it clockwise — like the original America’s Cup route in 1851.

The tactician onboard, Neal McDonald said: “I’ve competed in the race a number of times and can say it was perfect conditions for Tschüss 2 today. It’s such an iconic race in a wonderful setting.”

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About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth