The Digiterre Hedge Fund Regatta

The Inaugural 2006 Digiterre Hedge Fund Regatta gets off to a flying start

London - Sunday, June 11, 2006

The 2006 Digiterre Hedge Fund Regatta held in the Solent (UK) was a huge success and judging by the feedback received, was enjoyed by all race participants. The Rib and Yacht Charter Solutions set an excellent set of race courses, combining a practice race on Thursday evening with three short "round-the-cans" on Friday and a final longer race on Saturday.   The social events went smoothly with a Champagne Mumm sponsored "gourmet" barbeque on Thursday night, followed by a five course gala dinner on Friday night.

All three days saw good conditions with fair winds and Saturday provided a classic Solent day with blue skies and sunshine for the final race. The winning team Emergent Asset Management skippered by David Murrin delivered three "bullets" or firsts during Friday's racing, almost ensuring them first place in the event. Only a failure to finish could have robbed them of victory and very nearly did. On race 4 they spent some ten minutes fixing a sail issue, but still managed a respectable third place in that race.

The HSH Nordbank team  sailing Paul Dentskevich's own Beneteau 40.7 performed consistently well throughout the event on - and off the water with a first, two seconds and one third position, taking second place overall. Dr Dentskevich commented that

"This was a superbly organised event with great racing and great après-sail. The racing was surprisingly close throughout the three days, but in the end consistency of results paid dividends. It was also a great meeting place for people in the industry. Hedge Funds are full of sailors, and we look forward to racing against more teams next year."

Surprisingly, Team Digiterre managed to take third place in the event despite their obvious lack of training, and some would say sailing talent. Their boat speed was aided and assisted by a brand new set of head sails on day one of the regatta and an over-enthusiastic start at the expense of Team GLG in race two.

Despite a valiant effort, GLG suffered from a very poor set of main and head sails which proved to be an insurmountable handicap throughout the event. However, with a new suit of sails, this years devotion will no doubt deliver a top three placing in next year's event.

With their sleek French-built A40 yacht - Stamina II, Michel Peretie's Team Bear Stearns displayed some real talent during the racing but suffered from the absence of Shaun Hurst and from a punitive handicap rating. This was exacerbated by the destruction of their large spinnaker in race 3, leaving them racing with a small asymmetric in the last race to finish second over the water, but fifth on corrected time and forth in regatta overall.

As is the custom in such events, the winning team Emergent have pledged a large silver trophy for the subsequent years, which they have vowed to defend vigorously against what is anticipated to be an even more competitive fleet for 2007's event.

As event hosts, Digiterre would like to thank all participants and sponsors for their support in running this year's event.  Digiterre have already had expressions of interest from 15 teams for 2007, including all of this year's participants who have stated their intentions to return next year.

The positions for the first five boats were as follows:

Congratulations to Emergent, winners of the Digiterre Hedge Fund Regatta 2006.

back to the top