Gladiator B triumphs in NYYC debut
...near two-hour duel decided by just two seconds
NEWPORT RI June 12, 2017
Over 130 sailing yachts ranging from classic 12 metres from a bygone Americas Cup era, through to the latest Grand Prix TP52 race boats came together off Newport RI last weekend for the 163rd New York Yacht Club (NYYC) Annual Regatta, presented by Rolex and sponsored by Porsche and AIG.
Challenging for the Round the Island trophy, the British duo of Tony Langley and son Bernard were making a NYYC debut sailing their TP52 Gladiator
It was a battle for supremacy with Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and Olympic medallist, Steve Benjamin's, home team Spookie and the Gladiator going head to head for almost two hours.
Gladiator and Spookie in a duel that lasted almost two hours. Image Daniel Forster courtesy of Rolex
Spilt second timing in the start sequence had the Gladiator on the line virtually on the starting gun at speed, giving the Brits an important head start which they quickly turned into a 10 boatlength lead. From then on the Americans tried everything possible to assert themselves in a nail biting show down.
Utilizing its full complement of specialty sails, Spookie slowly ate away at the Gladiator's lead as the boats battled with each other for 19 miles around Conanicut Island Gladiator is set up exclusively for one-design windward-leeward racing in the TP52 Super Series and was at a distinct disadvantage on many points of sail to the Americans.
The American boat almost took the lead when the Gladiator's spinnaker tore about two thirds into the contest. But the team calmly sailed their boat at a lower angle for a short while to reduce load on the damaged sail while a second spinnaker was prepared for launch, simultaneously dropping the damaged kite in a perfectly executed gybe peal.
The Gladiator team executing a perfect gybe-peal.
Image Daniel Forster courtesy of Rolex
Benjamin and his team were finally able to overtake the Gladiator just moments before the finish, but weren't able to gain the five seconds needed to clinch the win after handicaps were applied - while both boats are the same length and style of raceboat, there are very slight differences and a tiny disparity in their respective IRC ratings - which gave the Gladiator team the win by just two seconds on corrected time to claim the Rolex timepiece awarded to the top overall finisher under IRC.
"Tony elected to start close up next to Spookie, staying to windward of Prospector and Warrior, the two biggest boats in the race," said Tony Rey, a Newport-based professional sailor who assisted Tony Langley as tactician with local knowledge, while Langley's son Bernard steered the boat.
"Tony and Bernard absolutely nailed the start. The computer read 0.1 boatlengths (about 5 feet) behind the line at the gun at speed and that got us in front. Another fraction of of a second and we'd have been over."
Tony Langley:
"We're very happy with the result, particularly as it's our first time racing here in Newport. It was a tremendous race against Benjie, he's a very accomplished sailor and we couldn't let up for a moment. At the end we were hanging in there by our fingernails but you just have to ignore everything else that might be happening and keep sailing your own boat"
Bernard Langley steering the Gladiator, Dad Tony calling tactics in their debut NYYC Annual Regatta
Image Daniel Forster courtesy of Rolex
Left to right: Tony Langley; Justin Longest representing Rolex; Bernard Langley and Phil Lotz, Commodore of the NYYC.
Image Daniel Forster courtesy of Rolex
About Gladiator Sailing Team
In common with all Langley businesses, the group sponsored Gladiator Sailing Team represents the very best technology in its field, attracts highly talented can-do people and conducts itself with the highest standards of integrity.
About Langley Holdings
Langley Holdings plc is a diverse, privately owned engineering and industrial group based in the UK. The group comprises 5 operating divisions, based principally in Germany, France and the United Kingdom, with a substantial presence in the United States and more than 80 subsidiaries worldwide. The operating divisions produce equipment ranging from electrical systems for data centres and machinery for cement and steel plants, to food packaging lines, automotive welding equipment and printing presses. The group was founded in 1975 by the current Chairman and sole shareholder, Tony Langley. With annual revenues of circa $1 billion, Langley Holdings is profitable, entirely debt free and employs around 4,500 people worldwide.