“We had done a fair bit of training before this event which has helped and we were expecting the light conditions so were prepared for what we got on Lake Starnberg. My team sailed brilliantly and without them I would have had a bit on!” he joked.  “Jean-Christophe and his Volvo Ocean Race team sailed superbly and were excellent opponents.”

While team Basilica topped the scoreboard of the three-day competition that saw the maximum number of 15 races sailed, Volvo Ocean Race were always close behind, keeping the pressure on: “After seeing how Basilica sailed and to see where they are strong and where they are weak.  We are looking forward to the next iShares Cup event in Marseille,” said Franck Citeau tactician on Volvo Ocean Race. “We have a plan for Marseille.  I can’t tell you what it is, but we have a plan!”  The French team were only five points adrift of the overall lead, only falling below 4th place once over the course of three days.

The race committee rescheduled racing today to attempt to fit in nine races to reach the maximum 15 races allowed for each iShares Cup event.  The six-boat fleet started at 0900 local time in a moderate breeze although the wind varied in speed and direction throughout the day from 2 knots to the occasional hull-flying 8 knots.

A heated fight for third place developed over the course of the day between Stan Schreyer (USA) on Tommy Hilfiger and Holmatro skipper Andreas Hagara from Austria. Tommy Hilfiger had a fantastic start to this regatta but today in the first race where double points were at stake, they came fifth after hitting a mark and having to take a penalty. Things didn’t get better. In the next race they came last and, ultimately, took themselves out of contention for the lead and had to settle for fourth place overall.   Whereas Holmatro posted a flying start: “It was very important for us to do well in the double points race,” Hagara reflected. “We didn’t have a good first day, we were better on the second and our teamwork improved each day so we decided to push it very hard in the double points race.  To do well in this event we knew we had to sail well until the end.  Nine races today was really challenging and mentally tiring but we are really happy to finish third overall.”

Richard Feeney, bowman on Tommy Hilfiger, praised his opponents:  “I’ve got so much respect for Andreas Hagara and we’ve got no shame in losing to a team like Holmatro.” Skipper Stan Schreyer agreed, “We are a little disappointed with our result.  Andreas was a coach of mine for a time and we got beaten by a master - nothing to be embarrassed about.”

After crossing the line for the final time of this opening event in the iShares Cup calendar, the top teams saluted the crowd with a flying hull display just metres from the shore earning them huge applause from the spectators.