08.03.2012 Synergy will compete in Melges32 regattas.
The Russian team is set to make a debut in the European Audi Sailing Series 2012 on the own Melges32 yacht on the third event of the season (European Championship in M32 class). The regatta will be staged in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy, from June 28 to July 1.
Synergy plans to compete in European Melges32 regattas in summer, and in American in winter.
Melges32 is one-design racing class that was designed by the Reichel/Pugh and went into production in 2005. It was officially recognized as an international class by ISAF in 2008. Yachts are produced in the United States. They have fiberglass hull, the mast, rudder, bowsprit, and keel fin are made from carbon fiber to reduce weight.
Class' principal dimensions:
Length - 9,7 m, width - 3 m, draft - 2,13 m, weight - 1,712 tons. Yacht has mainsail, jib and asymmetrical spinnaker. The crew consists of 5 or more, but overall weight limit is 629 kg. The helmsman is owner/amateur.
02.03.2012 Quotations from Synergy's co-owner Leonid Lebedev's interview to Valencia Sailing.
- What is a background of your sailing experience?
- I practiced sailing for a short time during my university studies but it was just for hobby. I was part of the university’s sailing team and sailed with them for 2-3 years.
- What made you then, after all these years, decide to sail again and join this professional circuit?
- Since my early childhood I was in love with the sea and I used to spend a lot of time together with my parents. My father was a captain in the Soviet military marine and as you understand the sea was a major element of our life. Then one day, I happened to watch a news story on Russian TV about Synergy, the boat of my friend Valentin Zavadnikov. So, now I am a co-owner of Synergy.
- You also are Synergy’s amateur helmsman. How does it feel racing some other much more experienced helmsmen and the world’s top professional sailors?
- I feel a little bit nervous some times but most of all I feel very excited. It’s a great feeling and this is something you don’t get the chance to do very often. Since in fleet racing all the other helmsmen are amateurs as well, even if more experienced, I think we do have the opportunity to achieve better results and, why not, win. In addition, we now have an excellent tactician, Ed Baird, and coach, Ed Reynolds, and as a result I helm in a more relaxed way because I feel I’m controlled by two of the world’s best sailors. I have been helming the RC44 yacht since half a year and I think I personally progressed very much.
27.02.2012 Synergy's training camp is over. The Russian sailing team practiced on Lanzarote from February 23 to 26.
Synergy worked on the water for six hours a day for four days, from Thursday to Sunday. The Russian yachtsmen improved their maneuvering and refine teamwork in different extreme situations.
Synergy prepares for the Cascais RC44 Cup, the regatta will be staged from March 28 to April 1 in Cascais, Portugal. This town is set to host an RC44 Championship Tour event for the first time ever.
Though Cascais is famous sailing spot. The city, which is situaited just 30 km away from Lisbon, hosted America's Cup, Audi MedCup and Dragon Gold Cup regattas.
25.02.2012 Synergy stages a training camp on Lanzarote. It commenced on February 23 and will come to an end on 26th.
Alexander Ekimov, a trimmer of the Russian sailing team, revealed the details of the camp.
"We practice according to the plan", says Alexander. "Team spends 6 hours per day on the water. The weather on Lanzarote actually is not quite that we expected. There are lights winds, 5 to 8 knots. But we use all the possibilities to practice. The goal is to improve maneuvering in different situations. Out tactician Ed Baird designs them for us. The crew gets great experience. We get better every day".
21.02.2012 Second RC44 Championship Tour's event of the year starts in five weeks.
For the first time ever the RC44 regatta will be hosted by Cascais. The Cascais RC44 Cup is scheduled for March 28 - April 1.
Synergy continues preparation for the upcoming event. The Russian team is set to begin another training camp in two days on Lanzarote.
Cascais is situated at the Atlantic coast of Portugal, 30 km to the West from Lisbon. The town hosted regattas of America's Cup, Audi MedCup and Dragon Gold Cup in past.
17.02.2012 Synergy comes back to Lanzarote to stage another training camp from February 23 to 26.
"We hope to work in strong winds, that are expected on Lanzarore", says Synergy's trimmer Alexander Ekimov. "We are going to work on maneuvering as well and we'll try to simulate "extreme situations", the team has to react easily and correctly".
RC44 Puerto Calero Cup has been staged on Lanzarote on February 8-12. Synergy won 5 match races and captured bronze in this format at the RC44 series' premier event of the year.
Next regatta is Cascais RC44 Cup, 28 March - 1 April.
13.02.2012 Synergy awarded with bronze after capturing third place in match racing at the RC44 Puerto Calero Cup.
Synergy's tactician Ed Baird, who served as the helmsman in match racing on the very first day of the event, comments:
"We did everything to make the boat go fast. This is the key in match racing, a crew have to run the yacht perfectly. And Synergy's yachtsmen did their best. The wind was shaky and tricky, but overall the weather on that day was fair, nobody had advantage".
Synergy won 5 of 6 match races at the RC44 Puerto Calero Cup, the 1st event of the RC44 Championship Tour-2012.
12.02.2012 Austrian AEZ won the only fleet race on Sunday, the ultimate day of the regatta. Team Aqua came in second to capture the title of the RC44 Puerto Calero Cup.
The organizers planned to stage three races, but they managed to hold only one, due to lack of wind, which was too light. It got stronger just after 2 p.m., so teams went to the water for the last race in 8 knots.
AEZ scored the victory, the Austrian team's second on Lanzarote this week. This feat promoted them to fifth place overall while Team Aqua won the regatta.
