Nine teams descended on the waters off Marstrand for this third leg of the RC44 circuit. Conditions were ideal for the first three days with steady winds and calm seas allowing the Race Committee to complete the scheduled programme before the final.
However, the final day never got underway due to a complete lack of wind and overcast skies preventing the usual thermal breeze kicking in. After several hours of waiting, the Race Committee cancelled the three races planned, with the final outcomes based on the previous day.
As with any one design class, performance potential is the same for all boats; it’s the consistency and quality of manoeuvres that remain the key factors for success.
This being his fifth win at this venue, Nico Poons demonstrated yet again his prowess in Sweden. Charisma triumphed at Marstrand thanks to a remarkably consistent week of racing. The crew successfully set the pace in a fleet where several competitors remained in contention to win right up to the final day. “We had our ups and downs, but overall we made the fewest mistakes,” he commented.
This win also brings Charisma back into contact with leaders in the provisional overall rankings for the season. With just months to go before the World Championship, which Nico Poons won in 2023, this result sends a strong signal to the rest of the fleet.
Yacht Club de Monaco members once again made their mark in the RC44 class, with Vladimir Prosikhin steering Team Nika into 5th place, while Torbjörn Törnqvist finished 6th on Artemis Racing at his home event. That makes three Club representatives finishing in the top third of the fleet.
The 44Cup circuit now heads to Cowes for the RC44 World Championship, 23-27 September, a major event where crews will aim to put into practice the lessons learned during this Swedish stage.
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