Rolex IMS Offshore World Championships in Menorca - Overall

Matador and Man colliding during the final race of the Rolex IMS Offshore World Championships © Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex

Spain and Uruguay share the spoils. Azur de Puig (Non Corinthian) and Andalucia (Corinthian) are the 2005 Rolex IMS Offshore World Champions

The Rolex IMS Offshore World Championship 2005 ended today with one last race, which started 10 minutes before the cut off time due to the light winds.

The title of 2005 Rolex IMS Offshore World Champion goes to the Spanish JV57 Azur de Puig owned by Marta Mas Borrell and helmed by Jose Maria Torcida, with America's Cup veteran Dee Smith calling the tactics in the Non Corinthian division, and to the Uruguayan GS42R Andalucia owned by Santiago Mesa and skippered by Ricardo Fabini in the Corinthian division. Marta Mas Borrell, owner of Azur de Puig, commented: "Racing today was fantastic, because it was another example of the strength we had all along the week here in Menorca. We were lucky to finish the championship with such a nice race, after a morning with no wind. But the wind was fine at the end, and we enjoyed this race very much. It's been a while since there has been such a big difference between the winner and the second in the overall results, we are delighted. The long race was the one that made the difference, because it was 2 wins in one day, and the offshore races are always difficult. The presence of Dee Smith was definitive. He is a great tactician, and we are pleased to have him onboard. Of course, I am delighted also with the rest of crew of Azur and we did a very good job as a team."

During the Rolex Prizegiving Ceremony at the Club Club Marítimo de Mahón, both winners were awarded with the Rolex IMS Offshore World Cup and a coveted Rolex Yacht-Master in Rolesium.

After a long wait under a scorching sun with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, the Race Committee and the competitors had almost lost all hope of sailing their last race of the series. Finally, at 2.30pm the sea breeze started to fill in and the Committee was able to fire the start gun. The Spanish entries Cam and Tau Ceramica opted for the Committee end of the line and sailed into the right corner of the course, while Azur de Puig - who at this point knew it had won the series in the Non Corinthian division - decided to sail conservatively towards the middle of the course. Tactician Dee Smith commented: "We set the boat up for the light air and that was very good. Last night, with one or more races still to go, we felt confident as we were sailing well the whole time. Also, because of the way the boat was positioned in the fleet, it would have been hard for us to get in trouble. So we just sailed conservatively and it worked out well for us. We had a great time, we sailed hard and we sailed well. Menorca is a fantastic place and I am very happy I was able to be here. I enjoyed the championship very much."

With a steady southwesterly breeze of around 7 knots, Cam was able to maintain its lead throughout the race, taking line honours and winning on corrected time as well. The Spanish Farr 54 owned by Olympic medal winners Fernando León (gold, Tornado class, 1996) and Kiko Sánchez Luna (gold, 470 class, 1992), ended the championship second overall. Third overall in the Rolex IMS Offshore Worlds in the Non Corinthian division is the Italian GS42R Movistar, who finished ninth in today's race on handicap. The entry is co-skippered by Lorenzo Bressani and Iker Martínez, gold medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, with Italian America's Cup veteran Tommaso Chieffi also in the afterguard.

In the Corinthian division, the Spanish entry Puerto Calero-Hesperia skippered by Alfredo Morales took line honours in today's race and was able to maintain his lead also on corrected time, ending the championship sixth overall. Andalucia came third in real time and with a second on corrected time was able to clinch the overall victory.

"Today was very stressful for us because of the uncertainly of the wind" commented Santiago Mesa, owner of Andalucia. "At the end, the breeze filled in and the Committee was right by giving the start. It was a good race, with steady winds between 8 and 9 knots. The selection of Mahon to celebrate this event here was perfect, because there are usually good conditions and the place is amazing. We must congratulate the organization and, of course, the sponsor, because without the sponsor there is no party. And talking about parties, last night was memorable." The Italian Vroljk37 Sagola, owned and skippered by Fausto Pierobon, finished the last race sixth on handicap and, with consistent results throughout the week, was able to end the series second overall in the Corinthian division, with a lead of 0.75 points over another Italian entry, the X362 Don Alvaro owned and skippered by Francesco Siculiana.

Overall Results:

Corinthian:
1. Andalucia, URU, Santiago Mesa, 28.75 (0.75, 6.00, 16.00, 2.00, 2.00, 2.00)
2. Sagola, ITA, Porto Turistico di Jesolo, 35.00 (2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 14.00, 6.00, 6.00)
3. Don Alvaro, ITA, Francesco Siculiana, 35.75 (8.00, 0.75, 5.00, 9.00, 4.00, 9.00)
4. Transbunker, ITA, Transbunkergroup Ltd, 39.00 (4.00, 5.00, 2.00, 8.00, 12.00, 8.00)
5. Sei Una Diva, ITA, Ferdinando Battistella, 42.00 (7.00, 8.00, 17.00, 3.00, 3.00, 4.00)

Non Corinthian:
1. Azur de Puig, ESP, Marta Mas Borrell, 11.50 (2.00, 0.75, 0.75, 3.00, 3.00, 2.00)
2. Cam, ESP, Leon/Sanchez Luna, 38.50 (13.00, 5.00, 17.00, 0.75, 2.00, 0.75)
3. Movistar, ITA, Lorenzo Bressani, 40.75 (0.75, 3.00, 12.00, 10.00, 6.00, 9.00)
4. Telefonica Movistar, ESP, Pedro Campos, 41.00 (4.00, 8.00, 15.00, 7.00, 4.00, 3.00)
5. Tau Ceramica, ESP, Javier Dominguez, 41.75 (12.00, 4.00, 18.00, 2.00, 0.75, 5.00)