Sailor profile: Sebastien Col and Pataugas K-Challenge

1:11 PM Mon 2 Feb 2009 GMT

'Louis Vuitton Pacific Series - Day 1 - K-Challenge off Devonport' Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

Lynn Fitzpatrick looks at Sebastien Col and Pataugas K-Challenge

Sebastian Col claimed the top spot in the match racing rankings in the autumn of 2006 and has been persistent about staying there. He has been a dominant player on the World Match Racing Tour and involved with AC Cup campaigns since 2002 when he was the training boat helmsman and strategist for K-Challenge.

Col revealed his recruiting process, 'I drew my team from the seven guys that have raced with me in the World Match Racing Tour and we recruited from other teams that are not competing in this event, such as Defasio Espanol. We contacted key players from each part of the boat and allowed them to build their crew. From the time that we started recruiting in November, it took us three weeks to hire the team.'

Carlo Costellano is one of the team of grinders recruited from Defasio Espanol. He says with a broad smile, 'Here nobody is bad. Each of us was a little rusty. Each race is really difficult. Everyone is using this as preparation for the next America's Cup.'

Col would like to plan for the America's Cup, but his horizon doesn't extend beyond March at the moment. He is happy to be in Auckland at the Louis Vuitton Pacific series along with the professional sailors that he sees at so many races around the world. 'This event is a win-win,' says Col. 'We are professional sailors. We have to think about sailing. We have families and obligations. The sailors are happy because they are busy. The challengers have to work more and more together and be more independent of BMW Oracle and Alinghi.

Enthusiastic about the format of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, Col sees the short courses and evenly matched boats as being interesting for the sailors. 'Expect more crashes,' said Col on the second day of racing. Likewise, says Col, 'I would like to see a class of boats where the spectators can appreciate the intensity and skill needed to compete.'

With a bye in during the second day of racing, Col watched the Greeks, who took their first few sails on an America's Cup class boat under his direction, defeat Shosholoza. They sailed conservatively in their second match race as a team and demonstrated that they are quick learners.

Col and Pataugas K-Challenge suffered a defeat to Damiani Italia during the third day of round robin racing. BMW Oracle and Team Origin scored wins against China Team and Alinghi, respectively, during Sunday's windy round. The final race of the day between Luna Rossa and Shosholoza was rescheduled due to heavy winds.

To read other stories on the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series by Lynn Fitzpatrick see www.worldregattas.com

by Lynn Fitzpatrick

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Sailing

Sailing

Reefing Early: Shorten Sail Before You Must

Sailing

The Beaufort Scale: How We Learned to Rank Wind

Sailing

Heave-To: Sailing's Emergency Pause Button

Sailing

VHF Radio on the Water: Channels and Calls

Sailing

Reefing: Read the Signs, Act Early

Sailing

Read the Wind: Judge Its Force Without a Gauge

Nearby
North Head, NSW	5 kn W
Little Bay, NSW	4 kn NW
Cronulla, NSW	4 kn NW
Windiest in Australia
Maatsuyker Island, TAS	42 kn NW	10°
Most Windless in Australia
Broome (Coastal), WA	Calm	20°
Hottest in Australia
Cocos Island, WA	14 kn E	26°
Coldest in Australia
Cooma Airport, NSW	Calm	-5°
Wettest in Australia
Norseman Airport, WA	28.0 mm

Sailor profile: Sebastien Col and Pataugas K-Challenge

QLD Coast in Winter: Dry Season Tactics

Overnight at Anchor: Setting Up Right

Reefing Early: Shorten Sail Before It's Too Late

Live Weather

Nearby

Windiest in Australia

Most Windless in Australia

Hottest in Australia

Coldest in Australia

Wettest in Australia

Sailing Articles

Buy & Sell

2023 Appletree Appleslice V3

2024 Severne Custom Redback

2025 Tribal Powermax

2025 Sunova Casey Revolution

2025 Foil Drive Max Travel Battery

2022 Cabrinha Spectrum

2026 Sunova Shorty

Weather

Activities

About

Other

Support