Hugh Styles

Farr 40 Miami

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:11:52 GMT

Miami is an awesome place to have a regatta at this time of year and last week was the Miami Grand Prix, i was racing Farr 40 in a fleet of 10 boats and the teams all revved up for the world championships which are in a months time in the Dominican Republic.

The racing was very tight and we had our share of successes and not quite such successes, highlight of the week was leading race 2 from start to almost finish before a chinese gybe 300m from the finish. Also highlights were that we were consistently in the top 4 to the first make every race, just if only we could have been faster and held a lane downwind we would have converted many of these potentials into actual results.

It is always good to get back into the FArr 40 class and see exactly how close it is and get into some really tight and close fought tactical situations on the water. I certainly learned loads and thanks to the rest of the crew on the good ship Charisma for their efforts.

Ill be back in Sydney now for 3 weeks before getting on the plane and coming over to the UK again for the start of the UK season. I am looking forward to it but wish it could all be a lot warmer, ive got very used to shorts and tshirt every day here in Sydney, bye for now Hugh!!

Styles steers China Team to Bronze in Oman and Asian Extreme Sailing Series

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:23:49 GMT

The Muscat regatta was only the third regatta for the China Team who stepped up their game for this the final event of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia raced in Oman, it came down to the wire on the last day with the podium positions going in favour of Oman Masirah followed by the Wave and then China Team, the nock on effect of this was an incredibly tight finish in the overall standings with the China Team and The Wave on equal points behind Masirah for the overall Asian title.

This three-event Asian tour has seen many familiar faces from the European tour, such as, double Olympic Gold Medalist Shirley Robertson, solo round the world skipper Nick Moloney and European Champion Pete Cumming, whilst newcomers Thierry Barot skippering The China Team with Helm Hugh Styles, Mainsheet man Tan Wearn Haw and Trimmer Adam Piggott, and Roman Hagara on Red Bull Extreme Sailing have gone from a ‘standing start’ to put in an awesome performance, pushing the more seasoned racers all the way.

The Asian circuit kicked off in Hong Kong, then Singapore before ending here in Muscat at a full public event:

“It was very impressive, right in front of the public but still this sport is very intense, delivery is very high in terms of tactics and strategy. I really believe it is the future of sailing,” said China Team skipper Thierry Barot. “This is what sailing needs in term of development – the Extreme Sailing Series is a sport in itself.”

At the start of the fifth and final day of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia Muscat event there were a few worried and tense looking sailors on the dockside – the wind was blowing over 20 knots and the anticipation of some tense battles ahead only heightened the stakes. Thierry Barot’s China Team and Paul Campbell-James and the crew on The Wave, Muscat were on equal points at the start of racing with Masirah just one point behind and it was clear this was where the battle for the podium would be taking place.

Red Bull Extreme Sailing who suffered a capsize yesterday were just one point ahead of Nick Moloney’s BT, whilst Shirley Robinson on Rumbo Almeria knew she could play catch up if things went in her favour. The scene was set for an awesome display of Extreme racing.

As the local crowds gathered on Al-Hail beach for the final day of the ‘Extreme Beach Party’, racing got underway with two rounds of ‘speed runs’.
The reefed Extreme 40s relished these high-speed conditions courtesy of the 20+ knots of north-westerly wind, and flew down the windward/leeward course flying the hulls in front of the packed VIP platform.

As the wind dropped to around 10 knots, the huge mainsails were hoisted to the top of the masts, and fleet racing began. The Oman Sail boats led the way – first place for The Wave, Muscat and second for Masirah. China Team finished fourth place behind BT, putting them 6 points behind leaders. Another drama for Red Bull as their mainsail came tumbling down mid-race. They quickly hoisted a man of the mast to sort it out and were back racing in time for the penultimate race.

The pressure was at the max… The skippers jostling for position on the short start line – Paul Campbell-James misjudged the start and was over the line, forcing him to restart as their teammates sailed away to snatch the race. China Team got caught up at the start in the first two races, and allowed the Oman boats to pull ahead on the leaderboard. But the double-points final race was coming up…

Only just enough wind remained to propel the boats over the line. Hugh Styles takes up the story: “We knew it was tight on points with BT the Wave and Masirah so we had to keep out of trouble. But as the warning signal fired the wind dropped rapidly making for very unstable sailing conditions, we decided to start on port, got control over BT and all was good, until Almeria came speeding in with kite up and sailed over the top of us taking our wind and forcing us down the line towards starboard tack Masirah and the committee boat. Almeria had to avoid Masirah and in doing so sailed straight into the anchor warp of the committee boat and parked, we squeezed round the melee and were off! Masirah had the upper hand to lead off the line with us and BT neck and neck and the others parked. We pressured BT on the run and overtook them to finish 2nd from The Wave 3rd and BT 4th.

It was a superb end to a fantastic inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Asia. Only in a few months time, the Extreme Sailing Series European circuit will be starting – we can’t wait!

Extreme Sailing Series Asia : Muscat
1st Oman Sail Masirah, 103 points
2nd The Wave, Muscat, 101 points
3rd China Team, 91 points
4th BT, 84 points
5th Red Bull Extreme Sailing, 71 points
6th Rumbo Almeria, 70 points

Extreme Sailing Series Overall:
1st Masirah, 18 points
2nd The Wave, Muscat, 11 points
3rd China Team, 11 points
4th BT, 10 points
5th Red Bull Extreme Sailing, 8 points
6th Rumbo Almeria, 5 points

Associates: Sailing Networks

In Sydney post Hobart

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:35:31 GMT

Its taken a little while to get back into things after the Hobart, it seemed to take a bit out of me this year, maybe it was the new years celebrations which really did it??

The Hobart was a really slow affair, but lots of variety, shame that the average speed for the race for the overall winner was only 6 knots arrrgh. At least we did get some decent wind as we came into the Tasman rock and had a good old blast reach all the way down the Derwent into Hobart. I love this part of the race as it is the sleigh ride into the finish, or has been for me both of the last 2 times which I’ve done the race.

Now back in Sydney and have had a good new years and time to catch up on some sleep and some of the festive seasons delights. The good thing is that there is plenty going on as the International 14 Worlds are in in Manly at the moment and I’ve been over watching some racing and catching up with a load of old friends who seem to be back in town for the moment.

Off to Key west in 10 days sailing a Melges 24 which should be great fun, im really looking forward to sailing a little boat again. Then a chance to go back to the UK for 6 days before getting back on a plane to the next Extreme 40 event in Oman in February.

Happy new year, thanks to my sponsors and all the best for 2010.

Hugh

Oman Sail win in Singapore but China Team 2nd in overall standings

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:21:12 GMT

Oman Sail Masirah win in Singapore

It was close between 5 boats all the way to the end of five days of racing in Singapore under a kaleidoscope of weather with Oman Sail’s Masirah taking their second consecutive win at the Extreme Sailing Series Asia. They now lead the overall series with China Team and BT 2nd equal.

The final day of racing in Singapore started with a light two knot wind and the six teams tactically fighting their way around the racecourse, searching for the best possible winds. The skippers and crews were tested by the Race Committee as they began two races with the more challenging downwind starts as the wind picked up to a more consistent 10 knots. But just before the start of the fifth and final race of the day, there was plenty of drama as a thunderstorm struck the reservoir soaking the sailors and the VIP guests onboard to the skin.

The heavy downpour was relentless, forcing the Race Committee to abandon the race and the day’s sailing for safety reasons as lightening powered down over Marina Reservoir. With the abandonment called, the calculators were out as the valuable last race double points were added to the previous race, but Masirah remained firm at the top of the leaderboard, continuing their domination of the Extreme 40 fleet.

With racing every afternoon, the past five days have been busy for the international fleet of Extreme 40 sailors. Every morning they have taken VIP and media guests out sailing on the reservoir, to experience first hand what it is like to race onboard an Extreme 40. Guests have included government officials, TV crews, journalists, key opinion formers from the business and sailing worlds here in Singapore, as well as youth sailors in the Singapore Olympic sailing squad.

Masirah’s win brings their score in the overall Extreme Sailing Series Asia scoreboard to a perfect 12, but the real battle is for second place with four teams in contention. BT and China Team and tied in second place with 7 points apiece and Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team and The Wave, Muscat just behind with 6.

Hugh Styles, Helm, China Team:
“It’s been a rollercoaster here, pouring rain and lightening to soaring heat, no wind to lots of wind. There are one incident when we nearly capsized because there was so much breeze.

”Six boats means that it is really intense on the racecourse, lots of entertaining guests who step on with wide eyes, but leave with enormous smiles on their faces.

“For us with our racing we have had probably more race wins than we have ever had as a team, so really exciting for us and we’ve sailed consistently. A few bits of bad luck, but we are a new team and building ourselves into a better unit, so really exciting. We have come fourth overall, so really looking forward to the next one, looking to step it up and always get in the top two, fighting for the lead and looking forward to the next opportunity.”

Thierry Barot, Skipper, China Team:
“Today, was not a perfect day. It was a little bit difficult for us. Problem for the right positioning and a real gamble with the wind which was turning everywhere, but it is part of the sport!

”We’ve had big improvements since Hong Kong, missing some luck today, but looking forward to Oman.

“Singapore was fantastic, the scenery was quite amazing with buildings all around with the amazing architecture so close to us. The chance to have the public around us next time will be great, a 360 degree amphitheatre; a fantastic venue. I really hope that we will be back next year.”

Final Leaderboard for Round 2 at Singapore:
1. Oman Sail’s Masirah 121 points
2. Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team 111
3. The Wave, Muscat 100
4. China Team 92
5. BT 87
6. Rumbo Almeira 77

Overall Leaderboard after Round 1 and 2:
1. Oman Sail’s Masirah 12 points
2. BT 7
2. China Team 7
4. The Wave, Muscat 6
4. Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team 6
6. Rumbo Almeira 4

The next venue after the Xmas and new years break for the Extreme Sailing Series Asia will be Muscat, Oman (1 – 5 February 2010) and all is poised for a great last regatta with the points really close between boats in 2 – 5th in the overall standings.

Many thanks to Hugh Styles sponsors and supporters help and assistance.

Sponsors:
Gill, Holt, Marlow Ropes, Nacra Watersports, Tacktick, Towergate Mardon insurance

Associates: Sailing Networks

A convincing victory at Grafham Water for Team Styles at F18 Inlands

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:03:54 GMT

This weekends regatta was the last in a series of victories this year for Team Styles, now the UK National and Inland Champion as well as winner of Carnac and Texel course racing and 3rd place finish at the F18 worlds. The Grafham event was a great medium to windy regatta, where Styles Nacra Infusion yet again proved it pedigree with 4 out of 6 race victories.

Saturdays racing was staged in a great 10 – 13 knots, double wiring mostly with shifty offshore winds from the South West. The first race was a tight affair to the first mark with 7 boats all getting there at the same time and a good tussle for the lead, after the first lap it was down to Styles and Grant Piggott in second with Luke Yates third. Styles extended for the next few laps to take the gun and the first win of the weekend.

Race 2 and Hugh and Kyle lead from the first cross up the beat and built a commanding lead over Johnathan Worthington in second also on a Nacra Infusion, with Grant Piggott Nacra Infusion third. This changed abruptly when Kyle Stoneham unfortunately hooked onto the elastic on the last downwind leg to the finish and left Styles trying to stop a capsize then recover the kite and sailor, the team dropped from 1st to 9th and Worthington capitalised on the opportunity to win the race.

Race 3 A perfect port end start for Styles and Stoneham in their Infusion, giving them a great jump on the fleet, leading at the first mark and never to be headed! Worthington had another cracking race, with really good speed, Grant Piggott sailed a great steady race to finish 3rd another counting result in tough conditions.

Saturday night the social activities flowed, with the F18, Handicap and Shearwater classes all competing at drinking games, until everyone went down to the Wheatsheaf pub. Sunday dawned with a big breeze forecast and an opportunity to blow away the cobwebs of the night before, needed by some far more than others!

Race 4 Sunday morning and a start in 15 knots with a heavily port biased line, Styles and Stoneham took full advantage of this and charged off on Starboard into the left side for the pressure, and arriving in at the top mark closely followed by Jon Wothington. The wind built steadily through the race, but Styles was never headed and it was then down to the minor placings to duke out for 2 – 3 overall.

Race 5 and another 5 knots increase which made the average wind speed 20 knots. Still a massive port bias on the line and this time Styles played the Joker card with a flying port tack start, then converging on a tight Starbord lay line just rounding ahead of Stuart Gummer and Grant Piggott in third. Styles maintained this through to the finish and Gummer maintained 2nd with Piggott 3rd.

Race 6, just before the start 24 knots was read on the start boat and by the time the gun had gone it was over 30 knots. The fleet was down to 5 boats after a lot of the boats had had gear failure, but this didn’t deter some tight and testing racing, with Chris Sproat and Lewis Crawford in their Viper leading for 2 laps with the places changing a lot behind them. They had a mishap though and just on the last downwind gybe they capsized and lost the race. Gummer sailed a really strong race to pull through and win the race from Styles in second and Piggott in third.

The overall regatta finishing positions ended as follows:
Hugh Styles and Kyle Stoneham, Nacra Infusion
Grant Piggott and Andy Sinclair, Nacra Infusion
Luke Yates and Matt Humphries, Wildcat

Thanks to Grafham water sailing club, and the rest of the regatta organisers, also for Nacra Europe making this possible with their Help, Boskalis for their great support throughout the year. Then to the UK F18 class organisation for making the years regattas come about. There is one last event which is the Weston Cat Open on 6&7 of November, which is the Nacra UK Nationals 2009, please come and join in the fun. I am now off to Sydney for some R&R with my long suffering girlfriend and then a load of Extreme 40 racing over the winter in Hong Kong, then Singapore and final event in Muscat Oman.

Cowes for the Etchells Nationals

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:23:03 GMT

This week has been manic with returning from the Almeria Extreme 40 event after a 12 hour delay to the flight from Spain back to the UK.

Thursday I was in Holland to work out the plans for the winter and next year with Nacra Europe for sailing F18 next year, lots of good discussions and my proposal went down well, so waiting for a reply.

Now back on the Isle of Wight sailing an Etchells at the Uk Nationals with Graham Sunderland, we had a 1, 4, 9 today and have one race tomorrow, its good and close racing and today we had a dying breeze from the North and offshore and very shifty. it was good to be sailing some slower and really close racing rather than the extreme 40 which is all a bit bigger tacking angles and harder crosses to call as the closing distances are so big.

Tomorrow is the last day and we have plenty to play for with it all close between 3 boats for the placings 2nd to 4th.

Hugh

iShares X40 team 5th in the series

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:10:54 GMT

Yesterday was one of the best days for our team in the 2009 iShares Cup circuit. The venue was a very tricky place for racing, but the races kept coming and the races got closer and closer.

We had a great last few races, and if the radio had worked better we would not have been ocs in the 3rd race of the day. We finished the afternoon with a 2nd in the penultimate race and a 5th in the last race. BT and Holmatro our main opposition in the overall circuit had a shocking result in the last double points race. This jumped us up the circuit leader board and we finished 6th in Almeria and oh so close on the circuit standings, with iShares a 5th overall wow after a fully up and down season its been a good result all in all.

catch you soon.

Hugh

almeria x40 building and 35 degrees

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:50:56 GMT

Today was a scorcher and all the suspicions of the venue being a windless rather than windy venue were confirmed today, not a breath till about 6pm!

New team for this race on the ishares x40, and were joined by my f28 sailing mate Mischa Heemskerk from Holland, hurrah, the rest of the team is me Shirley Robertson and Nick Hutton.

Looking forward to this and then looking forward to the Extreme 40 racing circuit over the winter, which will be going to Hong Kong 20 – 24 Nov, Singapore 9 – 15 Dec, Oman 28 Jan – 6 Feb, Maldives 3 – 8 March.

Anyway its late and i need all the beauty sleep i can get before the event starts and then i am broken and nackered.

ciao hugh

Hugh’s Amsterdam iShares Cup 2009

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:53:35 GMT

This weekend saw the 5th in the series of the iShares cup events, I was racing the iShares Extreme 40 as mainsheet man. We had a good event, even though the day before the regatta started we lost our bow man, Adam Piggott to a badly sprained Ankle, which meant he missed the Dutch event and will also miss the last event Almeria.

This was a big set back less than 12 hours before the start of the first race, but fortunately we were able to get a great replacement in the form of 49er Olympic sailor Paul Campbell James (Paul has steered Extreme 40 catamarans in the past, at Cowes week last year). This left us with a steep learning curve but after a bit of Saturday morning practice the team gelled nicely.

The event went fairly well for us seeing as it was a new team dynamic and we had plenty of good races. Saturday night we were 4th overall having had some great wins in some races on the Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately the last 2 races were not so good for us a collision when we were in the right which we got disqualified from and we dropped back to 6th overall on the Sunday. All in all a great event and I was unexpectedly really enjoyed the tough and close quarters racing in the ‘Dam’, usually we race there with a lot of apprehension as it a crash waiting to happen normally.

Now back in Weymouth getting the world straight, with plans for the winter and organising charter opportunities for people in the Asian Extreme Sailing Series, which is going to happen in the end of this year and early in 2010.

The next event is this coming weekend in the blackwater Essex, sailing the F18 and then off to Almeria for the next Extreme 40 event.

Cheers.

Hugh

Contrasting conditions for Dutch F18 Nationals

hugh@hughstyles.com (Hugh Styles) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:48:33 GMT

The weekend of the 19 and 20 september saw a day of light and dying wind with only 2 races sailed and a third abandoned as the fleet ran out of the time limit. Sunday by contrast saw a building breeze and twin wiring for all of the 4 races.

The shifty conditions were tough to gauge and on Saturday it was `Darren Bundock and Will Howden who played the conditions the best with both races in the top three, and holding the overall led over night, with second Mischa Heemskerk and Bastian Tenteij, with one race win and a 5th place to count, then third overall, Koen De Koning and Tyse Visser, with Styles and Van West in 6th overall.

Sunday with more wind saw a new team come to the fore, in the shape of Olivie Backes and Arnot Garlegan from France, who sailed a great day and no result outside of the first 2 finishing positions, moved them onto the podium. It was then a fight for the overall title between Heemskerk and Bundock, which went the way of the Dutch man as Bundock didn’t have the best of the first 2 races and couldn’t quite match the speed of the Dutch on the downwind legs. De Koning had a mixed day with a win and then some around the top 5, and managed to clinch 4th overall, with 5th overall and finishing strongly Styles and Van West.

For several of the teams the next event is the Extreme 40 regatta in Amsterdam next weekend, and then back in the UK Styles will have the UK Inlands in 4 weekends time.

Many thanks to the sponsors, Nacra Europe, Boskalis, Marlow Ropes, Gill, Tacktick, Holt, Towergate Mardon Insurance.