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Audi MedCup Circuit: Sailing yacht Artemis wins TP52 Series Practice Race in Cartagena

August 24, 2010

Sailing yacht Artemis, winners of last month’s Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy – Barcelona, suggested today that they might have lost nothing of their momentum when they comfortably won today’s official Practice Race for the TP52 Series at the Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy off Cartagena.

TP52 Training Day - Artemis Caja Mediterraneo Region of Murcia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Nico Martinez- Audi MedCup

TP52 Training Day - Artemis Caja Mediterraneo Region of Murcia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Nico Martinez- Audi MedCup

With Cameron Appleton (NZL) calling tactics and Paul Cayard (USA) on the helm, the Artemis crew read the tricky approach to the first turning nearly perfectly to be able to round in first place, ahead of the Portuguese team on Pedro Mendonca’s Bigamist 7.

At the leeward gate Artemis sailed wide and late allowing Bigamist through, but they quickly made good what they had lost, leading around the top mark for the second time to take the winning gun by 41 seconds from Bigamist with Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) finishing third. The best recovery of the day was that staged by Terry Hutchinson (USA) and Quantum Racing (USA) who worked from 11th at the first turn to finish fourth.

TP52 Training Day - Fleet Downwind Caja Mediterraneo Region of Murcia TrophyCaja - Cartagena Photo Credit Ainhoa Sanchez-Audi MedCup

TP52 Training Day - Fleet Downwind Caja Mediterraneo Region of Murcia TrophyCaja - Cartagena Photo Credit Ainhoa Sanchez-Audi MedCup

After a delay of over one and a half hours waiting for the sea breeze to fill in sufficiently to allow racing the SW’ly breeze topped no more than eight knots but it was the top corner, calling the layline in to the windward mark in the streaky breeze and strong current which taxed the afterguards most today.

Racing is scheduled to start in earnest for the TP52’s tomorrow at around 1330hrs after the GP42 Series have completed their initial practice starts.

Among the visiting VIP’s was Ruth Beitia, Spain’s 2010 indoor world championships silver medal winning high jumper who sailed today aboard Bribón.

After watching today’s TP52 Practice Race many of the 30 participants who have been competing at the regional Optimist championships were able jump on board the top two boats, Artemis and Bigamist, for the ride back to Cartagena then helping the crews fold sails and carry them to the container village.

Last night’s gymnastics display was well received by a large and enthusiastic crowd. Tonight there is a Carthaginians and Romans show at the Public Village.

TP52 Training Day - Fleet Caja Mediterraneo Region of Murcia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Stefano Gattini Studio Borlenghi-Audi MedCup

TP52 Training Day - Fleet Caja Mediterraneo Region of Murcia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Stefano Gattini Studio Borlenghi-Audi MedCup

Quotes:

María Torrijo (ESP), Principal Race Officer:

“This week will be difficult, not only will be for tacticians because the light wind and the strong current will complicate things on the course areas but it will be tricky too for us in race management.”

Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy TP52 Series official practice race

1. Artemis (SWE)
2. Bigamist 7 (POR), +00:41
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), +00:53
4. Quantum Racing (USA), +01:13
5. Matador (ARG), +01:38
6. Synergy (RUS), +02:12
7. Luna Rossa (ITA), +02:21
8. Bribón (ESP), +02:43
9. TeamOrigin (GBR), DNF
10. Cristabella (GBR), DNF
11. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), DNF

2010 Audi MedCup Circuit. Overall after 3 events: TP52 Series

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31,5+31+35= 97,5 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA), 59,5+22,5+44= 126
3. Artemis (SWE), 57+53+33= 143
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59,5+31+63= 153,5
5. Matador (ARG), 60+27+67= 154
6. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51,5+29,5+84= 165
7. Cristabella (GBR), 65+43,5+62= 170,5
8. Synergy (RUS), 64+35,5+73= 172,5
9. Bribón (ESP), 88+41+58= 181,5
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 77,5+44,5+73= 195
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 88+78+70= 236

GP42 Series

1. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), 24+12+14= 50 points
2. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), 14+17+19(+1)= 51*
3. Iberdrola (ESP), 25+10+26= 61
4. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 37+15+39= 91
5. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), 40+24+37= 101

* Islas Canarias Puerto Calero has been penalised one point for breaking rule 7.3 of the MedCup Circuit rule (all the boats to be moored at the MedCup pontoon by Friday afternoon)

Audi MedCup Circuit: Caja Mediterreneo Region of Murcia Trophy Regatta starts tomorrow

August 24, 2010

The first two years that the Audi MedCup Circuit raced off Cartagena witnessed different extremes of Mediterranean sailing conditions. In 2008 when Jose Cusi’s Bribón (ESP) won, it was predominantly a light winds regatta. Last year it was Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) who won in big winds, triumphing at their fourth regatta in a row to clinch their overall 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit title. 

For the third consecutive visit to Murcia mainly light to moderate winds are expected for the first few days of this Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy regatta, probably averaging around 10-11 knots.

The fleet of the Audi MedCup Circuit traning in Cartagena Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia - Audi MedCup Circuit photo by Stefano Gattini Studio Borlenghi-Audi MedCup

The fleet of the Audi MedCup Circuit traning in Cartagena Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia - Audi MedCup Circuit photo by Stefano Gattini Studio Borlenghi-Audi MedCup

No matter the wind strengths it is a difficult, challenging and complex venue, heavily influenced by the steep, high cliffs on the shore, the wide flat land to the north east of the race area is flanked by high, rocky mountains to the north of the race track which channels any breeze from this direction. 

As the penultimate regatta of the season, among the TP52 Series fleet there are a range of different targets which teams are seeking to fulfil here.

For Emirates Team New Zealand their key objective is to preserve or extend their overall lead, whilst for the likes of TeamOrigin (GBR), Bribon, Cristabella (GBR) if they can play to their strengths in the lighter breezes it would give some of these middle order teams a fighting chance of winning their first regatta of the season as well as helping them climb the leaderboard. Equally, Quantum Racing (USA) and Artemis (SWE) aim for their second regattas wins of the season and seek to reduce their deficit on the Kiwi leaders.

TP52 Tranning day - Emirates Team New Zealand Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Ainhoa SanchezAudi MedCup

TP52 Tranning day - Emirates Team New Zealand Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Ainhoa SanchezAudi MedCup

The British America’s Cup team have been showing very well over the days of informal practice.

Tuesday sees the TP52 official TP52 Practice Race prior to points racing getting under way on Wednesday.  The fleet is as strong has been all season with 11 TP52’s from ten different nations competing. The schedule, once again, will be maximised over the duration of the event, looking to get 11 races in for the TP52’s and up to 10 for the five GP42’s.  The coastal race for the TP52’s is scheduled for Friday.

TP52 Teams Training - Luna Rossa Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Ainhoa SanchezAudi MedCup

TP52 Teams Training - Luna Rossa Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Ainhoa SanchezAudi MedCup

The GP42 crews have been arriving in Cartagena and have their practice race Wednesday.

All racing can be viewed live on Audi MedCup TV which runs from 1250hrs CET each day with action from the race courses supported by live commentary and comment, complementary interviews, as well as Virtual Eye Interactive real time tracking.

Onboard Audi A1 powered by All4One - Training Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Guido Trombetta Studio Borlenghi-Audi MedCup

Onboard Audi A1 powered by All4One - Training Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Guido Trombetta Studio Borlenghi-Audi MedCup

Monday saw the Audi MedCup Village for the Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy visited by the Mayoress of Cartagena Pilar Barreiro, Pedro Alberto Cruz the sports councillor for the region of Murcia and the president of Caja Mediterráneo Ángel Martín.

The regional Optimist championships started today and conclude on Wednesday, whilst onshore activities in the public village include a Gymnastics display and tomorrow night a Carthaginians and Romans show. 

Quotes:

Dean Barker (NZL) skipper-helm Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
“We saw 12-14  knots today. It does not look like we’ll get the same kind of winds as we did last year, but it is always hard to tell long range.”

“ It is a difficult venue to know. It is anyone’s guess. We love it here. It is challenging trying to understand what is going on out there. It is not easy.”

“At this stage we just want to keep on doing what we have done all season, being consistent and not give up points. The standard now is such that winning a regatta is a bonus. What we have done this season has been consistently good, maybe only winning one of three regattas does not seem that good, but it is good enough to give us a pretty good points advantage. Each one is the battle, but the big prize is the war.

It is almost a mistake to think about the big prize, we just have to focus on it race by race to sail consistently well.”

“It would be nice to get at least one big day like we did last year, that was some of the best sailing we have ever done, with the bigger chutes, bowsprits and so on it would be great.”

“It was nice to have been home, I went for a bit of a ski at home so it is from one extreme to another!”

Paul Cayard (USA) skipper-helm Artemis (SWE) on winning in Barcelona and keeping that momentum going:
“All that week we were just developing a process on our boat where we are consistently sailing well and up in the noise. And if you do that well consistently you are going to get first second or third. That time it paid of pretty nicely, but that is not going to happen all the time because then you have all the other variables which go into the racing, so that is our goal this week, to simply keep going with the good sailing habits that we found, like realising when you can push the starts.

“This venue can be pretty tricky, shifty. There are a lot of pressure differences. We had a lot of people fighting for the right and then on the second beat of the first race ETNZ got a big, nice, solid puff from the left and passed three or four boats. There is also a lot of current, a knot of current at the windward mark.”

“I have raced here twice before and had two different conditions. Two years ago it was very light and last year it was windy, we can get anything. At the moment it is shaping up to be pretty light to start, but we are happy with whatever comes, we are a pretty good all round boat.”

Iain Percy (GBR) tactician TeamOrigin 1851 (GBR):
“It’s a difficult, kind of puffy, bandy sea-breeze. You have times when you are winning and losing on the boats around you, so you have to accept that is going to be happening and hope it evens out, a typical Mediterranean venue in a lot of ways.”

The end of Barcelona was just an unfortunate incident, one of those unfortunate incidents which cost us from having a pretty credible result, so we fought quite well there, but as always we made just a few too many mistakes. So, here it is just about trying to minimise those mistakes.”

“We are doing different programmes every week, a Match Race event, a TP event, a Cup type event, and so it seems like a different event every week a new discipline. It has been a very busy year and it is one of those years where you are really putting into the bank good lessons learned, but at the time you are doing a lot and it feels like a lot, and it is not necessarily how you would prefer to prepare to win, but as a long term position for the team it has been great, to spend so much time in different boats, doing different kinds of racing, getting the communication channels working better and better.

The boat is all the same, all the boats seem to have their sweet spots and that seems quite venue specific, or even day to day.” .

Ignasi Triay (ESP) trimmer Bribón (ESP):
“We would be very happy if we can repeat the Cartagena regatta win of 2008 but this year is much more difficult than two years ago. We need a very good start and don’t make any mistakes because we have absolutely no margin for errors.”

Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Audi MedCup Circuit returns to Cartagena

August 17, 2010

The penultimate regatta of the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit, the Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy starts off Cartagena in just one week’s time and has drawn a full complement of 11 TP52 teams and five GP42’s. With the public village opening next Saturday the Audi MedCup logistics team is working at full stretch to make sure everything is ready for another successful visit to Cartagena

Caja Mediterraneo Region of Murcia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit 2010'Photo credit Ian Roman-Audi MedCup

Caja Mediterraneo Region of Murcia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit 2010'Photo credit Ian Roman-Audi MedCup

The return to Cartagena will be welcomed by crews and organisers alike, not just for the memorable sailing conditions which were served up last year, when the big, steep waves and brisk afternoon winds produced some of the season’s most dramatic action images, but for the warmth of the welcome and the huge enthusiasm which the historic city always reserves for the Audi MedCup. This will be the third consecutive year that the Audi MedCup returns.

The Audi MedCup Circuit Public Village opens with free access to visitors on Saturday 21st August with the official TP52 Practice Race on the Tuesday and points racing beginning on Wednesday. The GP42’s have their practice race Wednesday, and the TP52 Coastal Race is scheduled for Friday 27th.

As always Cartagena delivers a very active and comprehensive supporting social programme. The Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy forms the centerpiece of a week long festival of activities including Roman and Carthagenian parades, a regional championship for young Optimist sailors (23rd-25th), a custom motorbike show on Saturday 28th and an aircraft display on the final day of the regatta, Sunday 29th.

Challenging the Kiwi consistency
Over history the city and surrounding towns have become no strangers to conflict. Of strategic importance near the entrance to the Mediterranean and blessed with valuable mineral resources, Cartagena and the adjacent lands saw many battles at sea and on land. Next week it will be up to Audi MedCup champions Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) – who won here last year – to prove they can hold off the attacks from their principal TP52 Series rivals, to protect or increase the lead they have through to the end of the season.

Indeed even if the 2009 champions left Murcia with their current lead intact at 28.5 points they would be in a strong position to defend their overall championship title, but at the forefront of their minds is the knowledge that their margin represents little more than one bad day. The strengths of the challengers appear to be more consistent this season with Quantum Racing (USA) and Artemis (USA) both winning regattas this year.

At this stage in the season with settled teams, there are few significant crew changes announced so far. After a disappointing regatta in Barcelona, the Franco-German team on Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE have French navigator Philippe Mourniac – who was unable to race there – returning. The all Italian line up on Luna Rossa (ITA) remains the same, buoyed by last week’s triumph in the Melges 24 World Championships of helm Lorenzo Bressani (ITA).

GP42 Series: Tied at the top
After Madrid – Caser Seguros’ (ESP) first regatta win in Barcelona, they now lead the GP42 Series but only on a tie-break with Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), the reigning Audi MedCup Champions.  Skipper/tactician Jose María Van der Ploeg (ESP), who sidelined in Barcelona by injury, returns to lead the line in Cartagena.

Cartagena holds bittersweet memories for Madrid – Caser Seguros helmsman Paolo Cian (ITA). It was here that on the last leg of the last race his Roma (ITA) team lost the 2009 title to the Canarias team. But Madrid – Caser Seguros is going better than ever, and after winning six of nine races in Barcelona could be considered the team to beat for the Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy.

Quotes:

Ed Reynolds (USA), project manager Quantum Racing (USA):
“ ETNZ certainly seem more vulnerable than they did last year, but they are still doing what they need to do. Minimize the big score and stay consistent. There are still 200+ points left at play for the season, so a lot can happen.”
“Barcelona seemed like “the one that got away”.
“We’ve won the most races so far this year, so I know we are going well. But, we’ve put a few big numbers up, which has kept us from closing on the Kiwis.”

Ray Davies (NZL), tactician Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
“ We need to keep pushing and looking to improve in all areas, this has always been ETNZ’s philosophy, if you stop improving you get left behind. It’s hard to find new ways but they are out there, it’s our goal to make small gains in all areas rather then to look for one big edge.”
“ The level of the fleet is the highest yet. The main reason is it’s easy to copy and to catch up but its hard to find the next level of improvement, I think if we were to have built a new boat we would have made another jump but there is only one new boat this year, all other teams made modifications and copied a lot of our features from last year so they all made big gains, we made small gains by the new ideas and modifications we made. I’m proud we have managed to keep setting the standard.”

José María Van der Ploeg (ESP), skipper Madrid – Caser Seguros (ESP):
“Our goal in Cartagena is to do well and win, because although we are the leaders of the Circuit, we are tied overall and we depend on each race. Last season it was decided on the final leg of the last race of the Circuit, and I think this year it is not going to be any different.  So the goal is to sail very focused. ”

Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Audi MedCup Circuit: Closer on the water, more popular ashore

August 12, 2010

Three of the five regattas which comprise the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit have now been contested, as the world’s leading regatta circuit visited three different countries, Portugal in May, France in June and Spain in July. Already the feedback from competing teams, the organizers and the host cities confirms that this is shaping up to be a fine vintage of a season. On the battle field, three different boats have won the season’s three different regatta trophies for both the TP52 and the GP42 Series.

The consensus from the teams in both the TP52 Series and the GP42 Series fleets is that on the water racing has never been closer, tougher or more open. Ashore, the city hosts, the sponsors, the Circuit organizers and most of all the visitors and Audi MedCup Circuit fans around the world are loving the new innovations which have made the Circuit and the sport all the more accessible.

In the TP52 Series and the GP42 Series three different boats have won the season’s three regattas so far. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Quantum Racing (USA) and Artemis (SWE) have triumphed, as have Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), Iberdrola (ESP) and Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP).

Emirates team NZ - Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona. Photo Credit Chris Cameron ETNZ

Emirates team NZ - Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona. Photo Credit Chris Cameron ETNZ

In the TP52 Series after 26 races, including two coastal races, all 11 TP52’s have now won at least one race. Emirates Team New Zealand lead the series by 28.5 points and are the TP52 team ahead of Quantum Racing who have actually won more races this season, seven to ETNZ’s six.  Last year Emirates Team New Zealand won overall by 74 points.  Five different TP52’s have finished on the podium this season, Emirates Team New Zealand, Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), Artemis (SWE), Quantum Racing (USA) and Matador (ARG), but two of these TP52 teams have also now also finished regattas tenth of 10 boats which raced or 11th of eleven!

In the GP42 Series it could not be closer. The top two teams Madrid – Caser Seguros and Islas Canarias Puerto Calero are locked on 50 points apiece. They have sailed 23 races and Islas Canarias Puerto Calero have won seven races, whilst Madrid – Caser Seguros have won 10 races this season so far, and four of the Series’ five boats have been on the podium this season.

Promotion is the key

“In its sixth season, the MedCup Circuit more than ever looks to bring the sport of sailing to the wider public”, Marketing and Communications Director for World Sailing Management, Fernando Íñigo (ARG), says. “So we’ve added two new and very important venues, Cascais and Barcelona, which have already proven to be a complete success.”

Launched in 2009, the Audi MedCup Public Village has been an outstanding success, growing in popularity at each successive venue, peaking last month on the busy, extremely cosmopolitan dock-side in Barcelona’s Port Vell. “More than 250,000 people passed through the Public Village of Barcelona during the nine days it was open at the Moll de la Fusta, tripling our previous record”, Íñigo highlights.

“In addition, this year we have a strong commitment to promotion based on three innovations: Audi MedCup TV, without any doubt, the most outstanding new asset, which elevates the Circuit to be one of the great sporting events in Europe; Virtual Eye Interactive, a valuable tool in opening up the sport of sailing to the general public; and the Crew+ spot aboard each boat, a unique experience that few sports can match and that is priceless from the marketing and communications points of view.”

Audi MedCup Circuit Virtual Eye Interactive

Audi MedCup Circuit Virtual Eye Interactive

The success of Audi MedCup TV is unquestionable with excellent feedback from around the world and an audience which has been growing at each regatta. The combination of live action coverage from the race course with supporting 3-D real time tracking using Virtual Eye, and live comment, commentary and supporting interviews breaks completely new ground to achieve a truly global audience for a fleet racing circuit.

Also every race is stored on www.medcup.org/replay, so anyone can easily replay the competition action at any time. 

The latest innovation was launched to considerable acclaim at the Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy – Barcelona this month, the fully interactive Virtual Eye package which allows the user complete control of what perspective the user wants to take through the races. Again, all the races are stored on www.medcup.org/virtualeye for replay.

Finnaly, the Crew+ programme offers one spot per racing boat per day, to follow the racing from onboard. Sponsors, guests and journalists have a unique opportunity to be part of the action, while both the organisation and the teams can use this great tool to promote the Circuit. Up to 150 spots are available per event.

Next stop for the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit is the Caja Mediterráneno Region of Murcia Trophy, August 24-29, to be held in Cartagena, a venue that showed last year to be one of the best of the calendar both on the water and ashore.

Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Audi MedCup fleet at the Camper Regatta Barcelona warming up for the Conde de Godó Trophy.

July 19, 2010

The Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy – Barcelona, third stage of the Audi MedCup circuit 2010, will take place from July 20 to 25 2010. Teams have been loving the conditions off Barcelona where the Audi MedCup Circuit starts racing for the TP52 Series on Wednesday and the GP42 Series starts Thursday.

From the Vieux Port to the Port Vell, from the Mistral to the Garbi, exactly one month after the 2010 Audi MedCup finished in Marseille, racing begins tomorrow off Barcelona where the atmosphere around the Audi MedCup Circuit village is a mix of great excitement and building anticipation.

Pontoon Barcelona Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Ainhoa Sánchez

The huge urban renewal of Port Vell for the 1992 Olympic Games, at the time one of the most ambitious in Europe, created one of the most iconic waterfront areas in the world. And in mid July it is one of the busiest and most cosmopolitan city spaces around, a natural focal point where visitors and locals congregate, enjoying the cooling sea-breeze respite from the city heat, taking advantage of the open spaces and loving the buzz.

Add all these ingredients together and the Catalan Capital’s Moll de la Fusta is a great place to bring the Audi MedCup Circuit for the first time. “The set up here is simply awesome, a great place to come.” Ed Reynolds, project director of Quantum Racing (USA), volunteered this morning.

Preparing the boats for Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy – Barcelona Photo Credit Ainhoa Sánchez

The way it looks now pre-regatta, Barcelona might set new standards for the world’s leading regatta circuit. The social programme is busy and includes an opening night party for this Camper Regatta – Conde de Codó Trophy – Barcelona to which nearly 700 people are invited.

The on-board Crew+1 spaces on each race, which allows VIP and media guests a space on board the race boats during competition, have never been in such demand.

The weather forecasts suggest that a maximum complement of races could be possible.

Racing starts for the TP52’s with tomorrow’s official practice race at 1300hrs, as the prelude to points scoring series racing which start Wednesday. The intention is to ensure that as many windward-leeward races as possible are completed. So when the breezes allow, three race days could be the norm and up to 12 races in total could be possible. Today’s final unofficial practice for the TP52’s saw 10 knots of SE’ly breeze.

Bribón (ESP) navigator Marcel van Triest (NED) ascertains that “we should be able to sail every day”

Official practice race for the GP42 Series is on Wednesday and racing for the five boat fleet begins Thursday. The TP52 Series is back at full strength with 11 boats competing, including the return of Pedro Mendonca’s Portuguese Bigamist 7. Their bronze medal winning tactician Hugo Rocha (POR) lives in Barcelona and is well acquainted with the local winds. 

Emirates Team New Zealand, the defending 2009 Audi MedCup Champions, have a lead of 18.5 points after their fourth place overall in Marseille. But behind them there is just 9.5 points between second placed Audi A1 powered by All4One (GER/FRA) and fifth placed TeamOrigin 1851 (GBR), with Quantum Racing (USA), the Marseille Trophy winners lying third and Matador (ARG) fourth.

In the GP42 Series fleet it is Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) of Jose María Ponce (ESP) which leads overall but the lighter conditions expected here will be closer to the optimum for Laureano Wizner (ESP) and the crew of Iberdrola (ESP), winners in Marseille. 

Already thousands of visitors have enjoyed the Audi MedCup Public Village on the Moll de la Fusta and the visitor areas are open free to the public from midday until 2100hrs each day.

Audi MedCup TV is live each day from 1250hrs broadcasting all the action from the race courses supported by key interviews, comment and live commentary in English and Spanish.

Artemis sailing in Barcelona Photo Credit Stefano Gattini - Studio Borlenghi

Quotes

Ben Ainslie (GBR) skipper-helm TeamOrigin 1851 (GBR):

“ It was good for us today, a bit lighter which was good for us because it allowed us to try a few sails and set ups. We are pleased with the way the boat is going, certainly we are now a long way now from where we were when we started out and it is always good to be out on the water trying the racing with the other guys. We were at the right end of the field. This year for us as a team we have gone through more changes as a team than many would in a five year period. Yes, that’s unsettling but we are making the right step each time and it is a good group which we have on the boat now. We are getting there and the boat is radically different to what it was at the start of the season. So we are excited about this event, the boat and the team.”

“Apart from the long distance races in the last two regattas we have been in reasonably good shape and sailed quite well and if we had not had the handling issues we would have done much better, so I think we can win a regatta, but we need to get it right on the day, each day.”

“All through the season it has been hard with all these changes which have taken place, but working with Grant Simmer now is fantastic. He is the kind of guy who is happy to delegate and let all the guys get on with their own areas on the team and all the big decisions we have ever taken as a team we have all been involved in, everyone buys into the decision making process.”

Jules Salter (GBR) navigator Emirates Team New Zealand:

“I’m looking forward to another event where we can get all the racing in. It will be quite light and tricky for the week, light sea-breezes. Our boat seems to be going quite well in the practice and so we are quite happy with it all. It is interesting racing out there. There is no dominant side and there is a lot going on and the weather forecast is quite dynamic. There is not much wind forecast but it is sort of changing every day through the regatta whether it will be from the SE or from the SW, if it will 11 knots or it will be eight knots, these are quite big differences there. And in the lighter stuff all the boats are very even in performance.

Karol Jablonski (POL), skipper Synergy (RUS):

“The conditions were tricky today, typical Barcelona I would say. It’s going to be tough racing and the fleet will probably stay close together, so we have to make good starts and get the nice port of the course. The conditions here are going to be much lighter than in the other venues, but this is nothing new. We know Barcelona very well, but still it’s going to be very critical. We have to work on the boat speed, we all know that our boat is not very fast in the light stuff, we have to do constant work. I started sailing with the TP52′s this year and starting in the light breeze is not the same as doing it in the strong ones so I have to do get used to it.”

Gonzalo Araujo (ESP), helmsman Bribón (ESP):

“Conditions are going to be light, that’s true, and even if they say our boat works better in this wind, the whole fleet is very even, so we’ll see what happens. Our problem is that we don’t work as a team throughout the whole season, that is, we meet once every month for the event, and that’s it, so that makes it kind of difficult to improve and be as synchronized as other boats are.”

Lorenzo Bressani (ITA), helmsman Luna Rossa (ITA):

“ Today we’ve sailed quite well, we’ve made some changes to the boat after Marseille, we know it’s not the fastest boat in the fleet so we often have to make do with not so good results. The boat has problems in the light wind, for us wind means at least ten or eleven knots; below that we’ve got big problems. Today in the first training race we had ten knots, in the second it’s dropped to seven or eight and we’ve had problems in the top mark already, we seem not to be able to move up from the eighth, ninth or tenth place. It’s a big handicap for this boat. We’ve tried to improve it but I think it works better in the strong winds and there’s not much we can do. We’ve moved the trim a bit to the front and we’ve made the sails a bit deeper for light winds, but the boat was conceived for stronger winds, and we can not say it’s had a great performance in the past years, neither has it now…”

2010 Audi MedCup Circuit Overall Standings after two regattas

TP52 Series

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31,5+31= 62,5 points
2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51,5+29,5= 81
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 59,5+22,5= 82
4. Matador (ARG), 60+27= 87
5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59,5+31= 90,5
6. Synergy (RUS), 64+35,5= 99,5   
7. Cristabella (GBR), 65+43,5= 108,5
8. Artemis (SWE), 57+53= 110 
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 77,5+44,5= 122 
10. Bribón (ESP), 88+41= 123,5
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 88+78= 166

GP42 Series

1. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), 14+17= 31 points
2. Iberdrola (ESP), 25+10= 35
3. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), 24+12= 36
4. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 37+15= 52
5. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), 40+24= 64

Audi MedCup: TP52 Day 2 Quantum in the lead.

June 17, 2010

While many of their nearest rivals had an up and down day it was solid consistency which kept the green TP52 of the 2008 champions Quantum Racing at the top of the Audi MedCup Circuit’s Marseille Trophy regatta leaderboard today. In GP42 Series, the other green boat, Iberdrola, won both races.

TP52 Day 2 - Quantum Racing Marseille Trophy Photo Credit Nico Martinez

Out on the Rade Nord, a switch from yesterday’s southern arena, the breeze was equally hard to read and several teams results roller-coastered from one race to the next. Quantum Racing’s (USA) fifth and sixth keeps them ahead of Matador (ARG) only on tie-break as the Argentine TP52 had a taste of life at the both extremes.

Alberto Roemmers’ (ARG) crew sailed a strong first race, getting into slightly stronger wind to the right early on in the first beat to lead from first turn, winning by a handsome margin in the 5-9 knots of gentle SW’ly breeze. But in the second race they found themselves at the wrong side of a big shift and slumped from third at the first turn to end up tenth over the finish line.  Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) made their key gain as they rose from eight to second by profiting from that one shift. The Franco German team were tenth in the first race.

Top scorers of the day were Ben Ainslie (GBR), Iain Percy (GBR) and the TeamOrigin who scored a third in the day’s first then convincingly won the second race to elevate themselves to third on the regatta standings.

TP52 Day 2 - TeamOrigin Marseille Trophy Photo Credit Nico Martinez

Percy and strategist Santi Lange (ARG) showed an almost uncanny ability to read the pressure best, preserving their gains when they could, also proving that they seem to have put their Cascais speed issues behind them.

The leader board after five races is incredibly close. Only five points separate the top five boats. Quantum Racing are credited with the lead by virtue of their two victories yesterday, and TeamOrigin are only one point behind.

Quantum’s starting has been excellent. They had to dig deep and fight back when they fouled Bribón at the leeward gate of the second race, an incident which skipper-helm Terry Hutchinson (USA) put down to a momentary ‘brain fade’

But the coastal race’s 1.5 points bounty on tomorrow could prove decisive in this regatta and Quantum Racing go into it perhaps with an edge of confidence after winning the longer race here last year.

The Green Fear is back

The GP42 Series has in the past lived in fear of the bright green Iberdrola (ESP), sailed by the Desafio America’s Cup team to devastating effect to dominate the class during its 2008 season. Most of that fear had dissipated over the last year as the newer boats had risen to the top, the Green Machine came out to play only a few times during the 2009 season, and they turned in an uninspiring performance last month at the Portugal Trophy in Cascais.

But the fear is back. The light 6-9 knot and conditions of today suited the narrower 2007 and 2008 Botin & Carkeek designs compared to those of last year, and Iberdrola is the fastest and best-sailed of them all, putting two convincing wins on the scoreboard today to take a 4-point lead in the GP42 Series over current runner-up Peninsula Petroleum (GBR). This is only the second appearance of this Gibraltar-based team in the Audi MedCup, and already they are showing much-improved performance over their results from Cascais.

AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA) also showed great promise today, recovering from a bag caught on their rudder in the first race to grab and maintain a second place in the second race. This 2008 Felci design has also proven fast in light air, and is under the helm of owner Roberto Monti (ITA).

This regatta may very well come down to weather: if the light conditions persist, Iberdrola will be the boat to beat. But if the breeze comes up, watch out: the Madrid Caser Seguros (ESP) and Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) teams will come roaring back.

TP52 Day 2 - The Fleet Marseille Trophy Photo Credit Nico Martinez

Quotes of the day

Terry Hutchinson (USA) skipper-helm Quantum Racing (USA):

“I had a brain fade at the leeward mark I was making sure that we did not run into the transom of Matador at the leeward mark and was sitting to leeward and when I stood about a length to the mark I saw Bribon coming in at pace. That was a brain fade but we did our 720 and got right back into. We took what was given to us.

It is tricky, trickier than normal Marseille. We are battling along. Probably the most positive thing is that our top mark deltas are fourths, we are rounding 4,1,1,4,4, and it is not easy conditions. We are starting well. Kevin and Greg are giving us really good information pre-start and we are getting off clean and the boat is going well.”

Francesco Bruni (ITA), tactician Matador (ARG):

“We have had an up-and-down day where we have done very good things and very bad ones. We are a little bit angry with ourselves for the second leg in which we were third and we have made the mistake or staying in the middle with less wind than in the sides. Sometimes you need to bet for one side and risk a little instead of lowering the risk but reaming in the middle without pressure. We paid a lot for this mistake, we have paid seven points. Of course the regatta is still open, this is a much opener regatta than Cascais. I guess we have to keep fighting.”

Ian Walker (GBR), tactician Bribón (ESP):

“It’s been very hard, but what’s good for us is I think our boat is competitive in light winds . Today we were the third best boat so we know we can do it better but we are racing with the best of them in light winds, so it’s much better than Cascais in stronger winds .”

Laureano Wizner (ESP), skipper Iberdrola (ESP): “

“A perfect day. This boat loves the light breeze, the configuration is just perfect for light winds, so that has allowed the crew to make comfortable work, the tactics has also been perfect and the work in general has been excellent. When things run smoothly everything is easy and everybody is happier. A perfect day.”

Iñaki Castañer (ESP) tactician Península Petroleum (GBR):

“ We are very happy, we coordinated all the team work on board perfectly, on such a complicated day as today. So we are pleased because the owner has steered the boat very well, and we have been focused, which is our goal, to sail focused and always being in the front of the fleet. After a few days of racing, consistency pays. So we are satisfied with the crew and with the boat.”

Marseille Trophy

TP52 Series

Overall – Day 2

1. Quantum Racing (USA), 8+1+1+5+6= 21 points
2. Matador (ARG), 3+3+4+1+10= 21
3. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+7+7+3+1= 22
4. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 2+9+2+10+2= 25
5. Bribón (ESP), 1+8+8+2+7= 26
6. Synergy (RUS), 9+2+6+7+4= 28   
7. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 10+6+5+4+3= 28
8. Cristabella (GBR), 6+4+3+8+9= 30
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+5+10+9+5= 34 
10. Artemis (SWE), 7+11(RAF)+9+6+8= 41 
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 12(DNC)+12(DNC)+12(DNC)+12(DNC)+12(DNC)= 60

GP42 Series

Overall – Day 1

1. Iberdrola (ESP), 1+1= 2 points
2. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), 3+3= 6
3. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 5+2= 7
4. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), 2+5= 7
5. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), 4+4= 8

Audi MedCup Day 1: Quantum Racing wins first TP52 race.

June 16, 2010

It was a day of sharply contrasting fortunes for past and present Audi MedCup Champions on the Rade Sud today as the Marseille Trophy opened with three races which proved a very different test to last month’s breezy curtain raiser in Cascais, Portugal. Iberdrola won the GP42 Series Practice Race.

As 2008 champions Quantum Racing rekindled their winning mojo with back to back wins in Races 2 and 3 to lead the regatta at the end of the first day, the reigning champions came off the water in ninth of ten and 2007 circuit winners in tenth.

TP52 Day 1 - Quantum Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand Photo Credit Guido Trombetta Studio Borlenghi

Breezes rarely topped ten knots but it was the changes in strength and direction which made life especially testing for afterguards. Taking the positive benefits of the bend generated by the steep, bluff Marseilleveyre mountains was usual key. But there was no simple strategy, there were many traps, zones of light winds which were best avoided.

With Morgan Larson (USA), who won as tactician for the 2008 champions, returned to the afterguard fold for this regatta, Quantum Racing’s starts were strong and their tactical sailing a good blend of pushing when they needed to and managing the risks in the patchy breezes.

They were able to hold off Synergy (RUS) by only 3 seconds in a thrilling finish to Race 2.

Winning, ahead of Audi A1 powered by All4One in the third race, sees Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the team end the day locked even on 10 points with the very consistent Matador (ARG) whose 3,3,4 for the day is a welcome tonic after their slightly disappointing Portugal Trophy regatta.

Emirates Team New Zealand unfortunately repeated that off-key start that they made to the season’s first races, tenth in the first contest which was won by Bribon.

This time, in the lighter conditions which are not the powerful Kiwi boat’s favourite, they failed to bounce back into the top tier of the fleet during the following two races, but so close are the points in this extremely tight class that they are only four points shy of the top half of the fleet.

Emirates Team New Zealand and Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE Photo Credit Guido Trombetta

Superstition in the GP42 practice race

Helmsman Paolo Cian (ITA) today acted on an age-old superstition common among sailors, which holds that winning the practice race before a big event brings bad luck.

He and his team on Madrid – Caser Seguros (ESP) were leading going into the finish of today’s practice race, but pulled away to score DNF, a move which he hopes will help him repeat his win here last year.

Meanwhile, 2008 Class Champion Iberdrola (ESP), making their Marseille Trophy debut, had no qualms in taking the practice race win, if only by 10 seconds over the team currently on top of the GP42 Series leaderboard. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) has regained not only their title sponsor of last year, but also a replacement team member for mastman Carlos Hernandez (ESP) who injured his hand yesterday while repairing the boom that was broken in transit to this event. Marcos Aliaga (ESP) will sail this week for the team.

GP42 Official training day - Iberdrola Photo Credit Ainhoa Sanchez

Another critical repair was that of the masthead crane on Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), broken in Cascais just moments before the start of the last breezy day of racing there – in today’s 10 knots all looked well.

Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy quotes of the day

Terry Hutchinson, skipper Quantum Racing (USA):
“It’s been a great day, actually one of the best days we’ve had in a lot on Quantum Racing. In the first race what happened is that it got a little light and funky, and everything we did was a little bit off, but we made it up in the next two. The wind was shifty, tricky and puffy, and very hard to read, actually that was the hardest part in the first race, was trying to see the wind. It was a tricky day.”

Guillermo Parada (ARG), helmsman Matador (ARG):
“I think the clue today was to sail conservative, we could have done some gainings and passed some boats, but we’ve decided no to take any risks instead. But we are happy about the way we sailed, though this is only the beginning, but better to start like this than other ways.”

“We had overall a good day, we had a first very good race and a second very good race and in the middle the second race didn’t go that well, it’s very shifty and tricky and in the second race we had a clear idea of what we wanted to do but at the end we didn’t do it and we ended up second last so it’s a good example on how close everything is so we had a second, a second last and a second over.”

Christian Scherrer (SWI), trimmer Audi A1 powered ALL4ONE (GER):
“We had overall a good day, we had a first very good race and a second very good race and in the middle the second race didn’t go that well, it’s very shifty and tricky and in the second race we had a clear idea of what we wanted to do but at the end we didn’t do it and we ended up second last so it’s a good example on how close everything is so we had a second, a second last and a second overall good but we are a bit unhappy about the second race.”

Gonzalo Araujo (ESP), helmsman Bribón (ESP):
“Today we had our ups and downs. Very good beginning, we had a very good start in the first one, we went towards the left, which was the good side and from there on the race has been quite easy, plus we had a good pace, although we had to watch Matador who was following close. In the second one we had an early start and the truth is that it has been a hard race from the beginning, there was a moment we could have catch up, but we didn’t and the last race the same, a bad start, and we were forced to the right so we had no chance to pass. We know that if we sail a perfectly we can win races, but it’s hard.”

Dean Barker (NZL), helmsman Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
“It was shifty, puffy and big holes and we certainly did not sail particularly well. It is always hard to focus on any one thing we did wrong, but we did not get to the best side of the course at the right time. I think that basically the other boats sailed better than us today. There is nothing too much to get stressed about, we just need to have a good consistent day tomorrow, and get some consistency into it.”

“ If there is a weakness with the boat it is in this, light and lumpy.”

TP52 Series

Overall – Day 1
1. Quantum Racing (USA), 8+1+1=10 points
2. Matador (ARG), 3+3+4= 10
3. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 2+9+2= 13
4. Cristabella (GBR), 6+4+3= 13
5. Bribón (ESP), 1+8+8= 17
6. Synergy (RUS), 9+2+6= 17   
7. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+7+7= 18
8. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+5+10= 20 
9. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 10+6+5= 21
10. Artemis (SWE), 7+12(RAF)+9= 28 
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 12(DNC)+12(DNC)+12(DNC)= 36

GP42 Series

Practice Race

1. Iberdrola (ESP)
2. Puerto Calero (ESP), +00:10
3. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), +01:30
4. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), +02:04
5. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), DNF

Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy TP52 Series starts tomorrow.

June 16, 2010

The official practice race for the TP52 Series at the Marseille Trophy had to be cancelled today, falling foul of the stormy, wet conditions and the unsettled breezes. The forecast for tomorrow is more promising, when three races for the TP52 are planned with the first starts due at 13:30hrs while the five GP42’s are scheduled for their Practice Race.

Rain in Marseille Photo Credit Ainhoa SanchezAudi MedCup

The rain was teeming down before dawn and that set the tone for the day. But the 10 TP52 teams, keen to get in whatever practice might be available. After being held ashore the fleet went afloat on the rade Sude and ran through two practice starts, but both saw big wind shifts and changes in pressure. One windward leg was sailed.

Nevertheless the crews spent the best part of four hours on the water, and some of that time was productively spent testing sails and tuning up preparing for the start of racing tomorrow (Wednesday).

TP52 Official Training day Fleet Nico Martinez Audi MedCup

TP52 Official Training day Fleet Photo Credit Nico Martinez

Sandy Meyer-Woldron and Lisa Loch, both well known German models sailed on Audi A1 powered by All4One.

Three races for the TP52 are planned with the first starts due at 13:30hrs while the five GP42’s are scheduled for their Practice Race.

The forecast for tomorrow is more promising with the SE’ly wind expected to be better established.

Quotes of the day:

Pavel Melnikov (RUS), grinder Synergy (RUS):

“We haven’t been able to do much on the water, and we can’t really say how the other boats are performing now…We have changed our spinnakers for lighter winds, and changed two crew members, the navigator and the main sail trimmer.”

Cole Parada (ARG), trimmer Matador (ARG):

“it’s a pitty we haven’t been able to sail more today, we only arrived saturday and we haven’t had much time to practice. We haven’t done any major changes on the boat, just new spinnakers.”

Nacho Postigo (ESP), technical director Audi MedCup Circuit:

“The wind was changing a lot, in terms of direction and strength, so we were able to get just one start, and had to abort the second one when we were about to do it. The weather will be better tomorrow, we expect to be able to run two or three races.”

Dean Barker (NZL), helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):

“It was a shame to not make the practice race, but the conditions were very difficult for everyone: sometimes we had strong wind, sometime nothing. Anyway, we know Marseille quite well, it’s the third year that the Circuit came here,  winning last year. It’s a great race course, real challenging, so it’s always a pleasure to sail here. It’s a great feature, a good spectacle for the Audi MedCup.”

TP52 Official Training day Emirates Team New Zealand Photo Credit Ian Roman

 

Lorenzo Bressani (ITA), helmsman, Luna Rossa (ITA):

“Not a very good day, today the weather was horrible, too much rain, the wind was too shifty, it was impossible to try a race, just impossible to try anything. Twenty seconds before the start, the committee hoisted the AP flag twice because the wind was shifting big to the left, so it was impossible.

For tomorrow we will try to do better than Cascais, Yesterday we did two informal practice races and we got a couple of second places which is good.

For me this is a very important and exciting step and I am very pleased to be back on the TP52. I have good memories of driving the Orlanda in 2005 with a crew from Italy, but these teams now are very. very good. And Prada of course has a great name in the sailing world so for me this is a very good chance.”

José María Ponce (ESP), helmsman Puerto Calero (ESP):

“We come here with very high spirits after the first regatta of the season, but also we need to be aware that although ten points is a good advantage, if we do any mistake or break something, we can easily loose for or five points. We need to keep calm and sail as usual.”

2010 Audi MedCup Circuit

Overall after Cascais

TP52 Series

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31,5 points
2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51,5
3. Artemis (SWE), 57 
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59,5
5. Quantum Racing (USA), 59,5
6. Matador (ARG), 60
7. Synergy (RUS), 64  
8. Cristabella (GBR), 65
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 77,5
10. Bribón (ESP), 82,5
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 88

GP42 Series

1. Puerto Calero (ESP), 14 points
2. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), 24
3. Iberdrola (ESP), 25
4. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 37
5. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), 40

Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy to Set Off in One Weeks Time

June 09, 2010

When the Marseille Trophy starts in one week’s time it will be the third successive year that the Audi MedCup Circuit has raced off the historic port which is a Mediterranean jewel. Emirates Team New Zealand (TP52 Series) and Puerto Calero (GP42 Series) lead the Circuit after the season’s first event.

Audi MedCup - Emirates New Zealand

While the first regatta of 2010, last month’s Portugal Trophy Cascais was contested on waters which were new to the Circuit, Marseille’s Rades are now well known to the regular Circuit contenders. Last year’s TP52 regatta marked the start of Emirates Team New Zealand’s (NZL) unbroken string of regatta victories. Will the Kiwi team, fresh – or perhaps not so fresh – from a come from behind match racing win in Sardinia complete the full circle and retain the Marseille Trophy, or will another team step up and break the New Zealand silverware monopoly?

Consistency has been the bedrock of the Kiwi success. While they have minimised crew changes, several contenders come to Marseille having made line-up changes. Matador (ARG) welcomes Vasco Vascotto (ITA) as strategist to complement the talents of tactician Francesco Bruni (ITA).

Audi MedCup - Portugal Trophy 2010

“For Marseille I expect wind”, says Vascotto “and then I expect to start this new adventure in the best way possible, hoping to enhance the performance of the team overall, and to help the crew as best I possibly can, but also of course we will have time over the season to improve. For us the target is to show that we can do well on the Circuit this season, to take some satisfaction from winning some races.”

Double Olympic medallist Santi Lange (ARG), who works closely with the office of TeamOrigin 1851 designers Juan K Yacht Design, has joined the British team which recently appointed Grant Simmer (AUS) as team director. TeamOrigin are reported to have removed the keel winglets which caused a stir in Portugal.

Audi MedCup - Portugal Trophy

Italy’s Luna Rossa (ITA) will have past Melges 24 World and European champion Lorenzo Bressani (ITA) on the helm in Marseille in their bid to improve on the Italian team’s patchy performance in Cascais (9th).

Cascais proved conclusively that the level in the TP52 fleet has risen once again but also that there is very, very little separating the top boats and that no one team can expect to rise to the top on the strength of any one perceived advantage or strength. Older boats such as Cristabella (GBR) lead the regatta and Bigamist 7 (POR) won races.

Home hopes will rest with the Franco-German team on AUDI A1 powered by ALL4ONE skippered by Germany’s four times Olympic medallist Jochen Schuemann with French match racer Seb Col on the helm. They finished an excellent second overall in Cascais.

Philippe Mourniac (FRA) navigator Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE comments:

“Our target in Marseille will not be different to the one we had in Cascais. Our main objective was to have a TP52 on the Circuit. This objective is acheived. After that, we are a team which builds together gradually. We want to have as much time sailing well together as a group. But we know from Cascais that the boat is competitive and that if we sail well we can make good results. The run of results we have had in Cascais show that we have potential. But that does not necessarily mean that we will finish on the podium in Marseille. If it turns out that we finish in the middle of the fleet in Marseille, that also does not mean we have not sailed as well as we did in Cascais.”

Changes also in the GP42 Series
The GP42 Series will heat up once again in Marseille, as teams have made repairs and a few crew changes to be ready for battle. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR) has repaired the top of their mast broken on the last breezy day in Cascais, and according to tactician Inaki Castañer (ESP), there are no crew changes but the team is ready to retrun some strong results after that unfortunate breakdown.

Portugal Trophy winner Puerto Calero (ESP) will be back, but this time with a new boom since theirs was damaged in shipping transit. Skipper Jose Maria Ponce (ESP) also reports that Federico Morales (ESP) and Leonardo Armas (ESP) are back on the boat as the jib and main trimmer, respectively.

Audi MedCup

Another crew change is on AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), where skipper Roberto Monti (ITA) reports the team’s tactician Gabriele Bruni (ITA) will be replaced for this event by Roberto Benamati (ITA).

Not only racing
Marseille has long since taken the Audi MedCup Circuit to its heart. The TP52 and GP42 Series fleets line up only meters from the Mairie – the town hall – right in the centre of the Vieux Port. Indeed it is not unusual to see the crews drying and folding spinnakers on the steps of the town hall each morning!

The new, enlarged Audi MedCup Public Village will open from Saturday 12th June where the fleets will be lined up for promenaders to enjoy a very close look at the boats and meet and mingle with the sailors. Among the interactive attractions are the Audi Driving games, grinding competitions, and games and activities for younger visitors.

Audi MedCup: Emirates Team New Zealand and Puerto Calero win the Portugal Trophy Cascais

May 17, 2010

The current Audi MedCup champions proved they have lost nothing from their competitive edge as they both opened their respective 2010 season with resounding wins in the Portugal Trophy, Cascais.

After another day of muscular breezes which produced fantastic racing conditions off Sintra, just to the west of Cascais, Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) and Puerto Calero (ESP) had both set up unassailable regatta leads, clinching their respective trophies with a race to spare.

Emirates Team New Zealand racing at the Portugal Trophy Cascais - Audi MedCup.

Through the five events of the 2010 Audi MedCup season, regatta trophies are a bonus, and this is Emirates Team New Zealand’s fifth successive regatta title in a row, but the dominant Kiwi crew will be even more content to leave Portugal with a comprehensive lead of 20 points over Franco-German Circuit newcomers AudiA1 powered by All4ONE.

Emirates Team New Zealand Celebrations

AudiA1 powered by All4ONE may have finished with a sixth in the final race of the regatta, but the team which is headed by four times Olympic Jochen Schuemann (GER), finished consistently in the top half of the fleet through the second half of the regatta to prove they have the talent and the tools to be podium contenders. It is Schuemann’s best podium finish on the Circuit, bettering his third in Puerto Portals in 2008 with Platoon Powered by Team Germany.

The tough conditions produced a typically bruising final day which placed big demands on crew work and equipment. Emirates Team New Zealand proved, once again, a cut above the rest in the breeze but there were gennakers shredded again today and several teams not managing to convert on the final day, due to mechanical or sail failures, whether or not they were the product of crewing errors.

The British America’s Cup crew lost their gennaker sheet under the boat during the first race to finish 10th. For some of the time today Ben Ainslie (GBR) and the TeamOrigin (GBR) crew looked like an truly exceptional unit, leading again during the first race of the day, but they still have a speed deficit downwind which needs rectifying.

And Artemis (SWE) who were challenging Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE for second overall damaged their bowsprit when they tussled with TeamOrigin (GBR) on the start line of the second race today and lost the use of their gennaker for some of the time.

For the local team on Pedro Mendonca’s (POR) Bigamist 7 (POR) there was a boost to their morale when they won the first race of the day, heading Emirates Team New Zealand across the finish line to win, Race 9, the Cacscais based team’s ninth Audi MedCup win since getting Bigamist 7 last year.

Racing at the Portugal Trophy, Cascais

So, too, the 2008 Audi MedCup TP52 champions Quantum Racing (USA) leave Portugal with their belief restored that they can be serious contenders this season, not least by winning the last race of the regatta.

The absence on Thursday and Friday due to injury of skipper helm Terry Hutchinson (USA) tells its own story as Quantum Racing won Wednesday’s  first and today’s last race of the regatta.

Without question Cascais on its first time on the AudiMed Cup Circuit has delivered as one of the best venues yet on the Audi MedCup Circuit offering a full programme of 10 races for the TP52 Series and nine races for the GP42 in winds which must have averaged over 15 knots.

GP42 Puerto Calero wins first battle in the war

Showing yet another display of near-flawless sailing in stronger breezes, Puerto Calero (ESP) scored a first and second on the final day to win this first battle in the five regattas long war that is the 2010 GP42 Series.

Their consistency, speed and error-free sailing in the challenging 20-25 knot conditions seem suited to this Canarias-based team.

Puerto Calero’s wide-body 2009 Botin & Carkeek-designed hull design was perfectly suited to the fresh breeze.

Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP) won the last race today and finished this regatta as runner-up.

The GP42 fleet was cut down by one in today’s racing by the unfortunate damage sustained by Peninsula Petroleum (GBR) when their masthead crane snapped within an hour prior to the start of the first race.

Nonetheless, the racing among the remaining four was still intense, with AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA) making great starts and progress upwind to always round the top marks in second, but then struggling a bit downwind in the fresh conditions, and the whole pack within seconds of each other at each turn.

The next regatta on the Audi MedCup Circuit is the Marseille Trophy from June 15th to 20th.

Emirates Team New Zealand and Puerto Calero winners of the Portugal Trophy, Cascais - Audi MedCup

Portugal Trophy, Cascais

Overall

TP52 Series

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 6+11+1+1+4+2+1+1,5+2+2= 31,5 points

2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 9+7+4+6+1+5+5+4,5+4+6= 51,5

3. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+7+8+3+7+2+6+6+10= 58 

4. Quantum Racing (USA), 1+5+8+2+10+9+8+10,5+5+1= 59,5

5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+9+2+4+2+1+7+13,5+10+7= 59,5

6. Matador (ARG), 7+2+5+9+8+12(DSQ)+6+3+3+5= 60

7. Synergy (RUS), 8+1+6+3+5+8+3+15+11+4= 64  

8. Cristabella (GBR), 2+8+3+5+9+6+10+12+7+3= 65

9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+3+9+10+6+3+9+16,5+8+8= 77,5

10. Bribón (ESP), 10+10+10+12(DNC)+7+4+4+7,5+9+11= 77,5

11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11+4+11+7+11+10+12(DNF)+9+1+9= 85

GP42 Series

1. Puerto Calero (ESP), 1+1+2+1+2+3+1+1+2= 14 points

2. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), 3+2+3+2+1+4+1+2+1= 20

3. Iberdrola (ESP), 2+5+1+3+3+1+5+3+3= 26

4. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 5+4+5+4+6(DNF)+2+4+4+4= 38

5. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), 4+3+4+5+4+5+3+6(DNF)+6(DNF)= 40

Quotes of the day:

Dean Barker (NZL), skipper-helm Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):

“ It’s been a very difficult first event. The venue is tricky, very hard to understand and the frist day we didn’t really start off too well.

The two first races were well below the standard we expected to sail at. And then the third race of the day we sort of bounced back but really after that I think we sailed a very,  very strong regatta.

I think in the remaining races, we achieved everything we set out to do and it was really a case of the other teams having races which dropped them back into the pack a little bit so we just remained consistent, other than that the first day. That’s been the main difference. Without question at every event teams always improve and over the season. The  standard here was very high, so it makes it a tougher challenge to keep improving. And we know that fortunately come away from here with a nice buffer for the season long championship. But also to win this event is great but there’s still a lot of races, 40 races to go, we are only a fifth of the way.”

“ I had never sailed in Cascais before, I had sailed once in the river but that was just in a minor event and I had never had the chance to race here. I loved it, beautiful conditions. I didn’t’ realize it would be so difficult, I thought it would be more straight forward but it was great.”

Jochen Schümann (GER), skipper Audi A1 ALL4ONE (FRA/GER):

“ Cascais has been one of the most beautiful Audi MedCups that we’ve had in the last years. We had relatively good weather, every morning some rain but after that a lot of wind, beautiful shifty wind which I think was a beautiful challenge for all of us to get good results in the races. For us a second place is perfect, this has been the perfect Audi MedCup event.”

“ We are very happy, this is more than we had expected.”

“ Today it was important for us to sail well,  but we didn’t necessarily have to win,  second is more than enough for us.”

“ On the second race we’ve started well at the committee boat and at the first top mark we  even had the possibility to be first,  but we were second and we had a problem with the first hoist, the spinnaker sheet got hooked under the bowsprit and we had abort the first hoist till and wait till we’ve been able to free the sheet and that has cost us many meters, because in only a few seconds without a spinnaker you fall quickly behind.

Even if we finished sixth that wasn’t too important, what we were looking at is the overall standings, and both races we’ve always been in a safe position ahead of Artemis and TeamOrigin, and that was the most important thing.

For us it was clear that in such windy conditions the important thing is to sail clean races till the end without breakdowns, without disasters, and we’ve managed to do it.”

Jose María Ponce (ESP), skipper Puerto Calero (ESP):

“We are surprised because we didn’t really know what was going to happen and in which conditions the other teams were and at the end we’ve been able to finish with an advantage that we didn’t manage to get in any of last year’s events because every thing was much tighter. It’s clear that what’s happened here is not real, because the teams are still adjusting and I think we are the only team which has remained the same as last year, and the rest of the teams have all done changes so we have a little advantage in that ense, but I think in the next race everything is going to change a lot and it’ll take a bigger effort to be at the head.”

 The next regatta on the Audi MedCup Circuit is the Marseille Trophy from June 15th to 20th. Contact us at CharterWorld if you are interested in chartering a luxury motor or sailing yacht during this event.

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