Dubai: Torbjorn Tornqvist and Dean Barker's Artemis controlled the situation on the final day on Saturday to win the fleet race ranking ahead of Pieter Heerema's No Way Back and BMW Oracle Racing. But that did not stop No Way Back from grabbing the combined fleet race/match race ranking at the end of the RC 44 Portoroz Cup in Slovenia.
Giving a good chase was Heerema's No Way Back as they controlled BMW Oracle Racing throughout the day to grab second place in the overall ranking and first place in the combined fleet race/match race ranking.
The four boats who were leading the provisional ranking ahead of Saturday's races started the first race at the pin end of the line and headed for the left of the course. All other teams went right and benefited from a slightly better angle.
Sailing fast and well, Artemis just managed to squeeze in and take the lead while BMW Oracle Racing - sailing no more than one boat length behind Artemis, had no other choice but to bear away to give way to the other boats, finally rounding the top mark last.
The wind was quite irregular, provoking many changes within the fleet. No Way Back played the shifts well, grabbing the second place ahead of Team Aqua and Ceeref while BMW Oracle Racing only managed to climb back up to seventh place.
The wind started to drop before the start of the second race, leading BMW Oracle Racing and Organika to switch to genoas whilst the others boats carried on sailing under jib. A massive left shift gave the lead to the teams who had chosen the left in the first beat, whilst the second beat heavily favoured those who went to the right. Pieter Taselaar and Paul Cayard got it right on board Katusha, winning the race ahead of Artemis and Team Aqua, finally on good form after a difficult start in the event.
Artemis was by then sure to win the event whilst only one point separated No Way Back and BMW Oracle Racing. The last race would therefore be decisive for the second place of the podium.
The next regatta, the season-ending Dubai Gold Cup, will take place at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) from November 25 to 29.
