Audi Medcup

[Source: Emirates Team NZ] Emirates, the Dubai-based global airline, on Wednesday confirmed its continued support for New Zealand and the sport of sailing by renewing its successful partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand.

Following on from last week’s announcement that Emirates has become the first Worldwide Partner to sign up for Rugby World Cup 2011, the airline has also committed to backing Emirates Team New Zealand on the Mediterranean TP52 regatta circuit next year.

TP52s are pure racing platforms, high performance monohulls capable of racing in both buoy regattas and offshore races. They are 52ft long and race with a crew of 15.

TP52s do not have water ballast, canting keels or running back stays; owners preferring to keep it simple, safe and reliable. They can easily exceed 25 knots off the wind and frequently break 30 knots, and have won the majority of bluewater regattas that they have entered, as well as a number of high-profile buoy races against the best boats in the world.

The team has started building a TP52 yacht in Auckland. It will be launched on February 17 and shipped to Europe in mid-March. It will compete under the Emirates banner, with the award-winning airline and Matteo de Nora, a strategic adviser to the team, funding the project.

In signing the sponsorship agreement in Auckland on behalf of Emirates, Gary Chapman, President Group Services, Emirates Group, said: “We saw a fabulous 33rd contest for the America’s Cup, with Emirates Team New Zealand winning the Louis Vuitton challenger series and then putting up a fantastic effort in the America’s Cup challenge itself. We were as inspired by this great challenge as much as the New Zealand public was and we are delighted to once more get behind Emirates Team New Zealand with this TP52 initiative, and beyond to 2011.

“Emirates Team New Zealand has proved its worth on the water as a real competitor, and, it is fair to say, it surpassed our international expectations promotionally on the global stage as a brand builder.

“Our participation has also underlined our commitment to the New Zealand market, in which we are now a key player with four wide-bodied services a day from New Zealand to Dubai and beyond via Australia.

“When we first backed the team in 2004 we saw in it many features that we could relate to, including its drive, focus and competitiveness. The team continues to also seek excellence in all aspects of its operation and in all these respects we feel there a strong compatibility with Emirates Airline as an award-winning international airline.”

Mr. Chapman said Emirates Team New Zealand now had the opportunity to take its performance to another level.

“With new inflight comfort, services and entertainment features in our fleet, and the Airbus A380 super-jumbos coming into New Zealand in 2009, we are also going up another notch.”

Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker said the Grand Prix TP52 circuit is one of the most competitive in the world. “A team entry on the circuit is the next logical step in our preparation for a next multi-challenge America’s Cup.

“The Med Cup circuit got going three years ago and each year has got better and better to the point where it is now the absolute top-end of keel boat racing outside the America’s Cup.

Many of the 2007 America’s Cup teams are involved as teams or with crewing on the boats.

The aim has been to use the expertise available within the team to compete on a circuit widely regarded as the most competitive in the world.

The ETNZ TP52 was designed by the team’s principal designer Marcelino Botin and structural and mechanical engineers. Sail and rig designers have also been involved. Members of the sailing team have designed the deck layout and internal systems.

Building started at Cookson Boats on the North Shore on 15th September. It will be launched on 17th February next year. Sea trials and testing will follow and the yacht will be shipped to Europe in mid-March 2009.

Dean Barker said: “The TP52 is still a development class and there’s scope to optimise every part of the boat’s equipment and operation, much as there has been in the America’s Cup Class.

“The TP52 will give us the opportunity to continue to develop and test the sailing team in preparation for the next multi-challenge America’s Cup.”

“With a crew of 15 we will be able to work on combinations and communications that we use on the Cup boats. These boats at 52ft long are like big, high-performance dinghies, something like the new AC 90 class and they definitely reward good crew work.

“If a team is to stay sharp and focused it needs to sail as a team. With a crew of 15, the TP52 will let us work combinations and communications in full-on racing conditions.”

ETNZ sailing team members have been represented on the Med Cup circuit previously, most notably on board Mean Machine the 2006 winner. This year Bribon, often helmed by the King of Spain, was sailed into second place overall by Dean Barker.

Grant Dalton said he appreciated the continued support from the team’s naming sponsor, Emirates. “This project and continuing support gives us a team-wide focus while we wait for final resolution to the Oracle/Alinghi legal action.”

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Basic arithmetic, conventional logic and the wind as per current forecast for the final two days of the season points to a maximum of 75 points to be scored, completing each of a possible five races left this season, as things stand.

Quantum Racing (USA) have 45.2 points in hand over second placed Bribón (ESP). In third place Matador (ARG) are 24.8 points behind Bribón and two points clear of Artemis (SWE) whose slender chance of retaining the 2007 MedCup title that Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE) and his crew won in Hyères a year ago were wafted away by the gentle breeze today.

Principal race officer Maria Torrijo (ESP) and her team went afloat on cue, but spent the day monitoring a breeze which peaked at five or six knots and just never had the puff to cover enough of the bay, due to be the scene of what would have been one of the pivotal races. Ashore the crews waited in the plush surroundings of the sumptuous regatta village, enjoying the excellent food, waiting, watching, musing over lost opportunities and mistakes this season, and meeting to discuss plans for next season.

Local forecasters promise wind for the final showdown windward-leeward races, around 10-12 knots, which should be enough motive power to either ignite any grudge matches set to develop, or to provide open racing. The most likely duel would be a scrap over third place on the Audi MedCup Circuit between Artemis, with John Kostecki (USA) as tactician and Tornqvist steering and Parada on the helm of Matador with Francesco Bruni (ITA) as tactician.

Quantum Racing’s skipper-helm Terry Hutchinson (USA) remains religiously on message, conceding the end is in sight, but this is regatta they want to win:

“ I think I am not incredibly happy with how we have sailed some of these races. I mean by that that we have hit a top mark, where all the way through the season we have been pretty good in these situations. The flat water here brings things a lot closer because everybody is going at relatively the same speed.Some of the mental mistakes we have made have been exactly that.”

“ The end is in sight but we are still focussed on doing a good job and winning this event. It would be nice to go out being on top of the podium, and there are some very good teams here: Desafío have raised their game, Platoon have raised their game, Matador is going well, Bribón is going well and Mutua Madrileña is going well. It is all there for the taking, and my mind set is that here we have to learn to transition from a six regatta series to a world championship in a month’s time where we need to gain more confidence in sailing closer to the favoured side, sailing more aggressive regattas, so I think we are going focus a lot more on talking about these processes and what that means, and making sure that we continue.”

But, would he rather have sailed the Coastal Race?

” I would be lying if I said yes. We would be happy to go sailing, it doesn’t matter whether or not are good to sailing. Maria (race officer) has made decisions we have benefited from and there are times that we have been on the receiving end. In effect there are two less scoring opportunities, but we are our biggest competitor we are our biggest critic.”

Quantum Racing remain one of the most active teams in their process to constantly refine and improve their sails: “As we have talked all season long, our mode is continual improvement and so if we can improve something overnight, we do it. The nice thing is that we have back up sails now, we can do the work on our back up sails and then look at it on a test run downwind and on those opportunities you have before races then you have all the information there to do it to the race sails.”

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI MedCup] After the first three races of the Portugal Trophy off Portimao, the final regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit, there may be a pair of new names making a late season challenge, lying in second and third, but leading the regatta it is the American boat Quantum Racing whose stock is still rising as they extend their overall hold on the overall title to more than 50 points with just four days left of the 2008 season’s competition.

As the Russian crew on Synergy became the 12th different team to take a winning gun on the Circuit this season, triumphing in Race 2 in fine style, so too Riccardo Simoneschi’s Audi Sailing Team powered by Q8 (ITA) came good with their best day yet, scoring a ninth then two second places to lie second sharing the same overall points as Quantum Racing. And if Synergy had not let slip their third place which they held until the final 400 metres of the last race of the day, they too would have been on 13 points.

In the moderate breezes, 11-18 knots mainly from the North West, the racing was close and even. Murcia Trophy winners Bribón (ESP) won the first race, leading from the first mark to the finish line. The right side of the course paid and the leading three boats around the first windward turn were the same top three finishers, with Audi Q8 getting second and Tau Ceramica Andalucia (ESP), where Manuel and Luis Doreste (ESP) are combining their considerable talents, took third.

Terry Hutchinson is driving Quantum Racing to overall leadership. Portimao, 16 September 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

Synergy (which won the Marseille Trophy as USA-17) were quick off the start line and with Cameron Dunn (NZL) as tactician, Sergey Pichugin (UKR) steering and Francesco Mongelli (ITA) navigator, combining well to use the inshore, right hand windshift at the top of the beat well, with a perfect layline, to build a lead which was never challenged. El Desafio benefited as well over on this inshore line to round second. Quantum Racing and Bribón rounded overlapped, with the circuit leaders pushing inside. The minor altercation saw Quantum Racing take a penalty which cost them four places.

The breeze built again late afternoon as the cloud cover increased, and the final race of the day saw 16 knots of wind. Terry Hutchinson (USA) on Quantum Racing made a fast, clean start – the best in the 15 boat TP52 fleet – and the black and green Botin Carkeek design were able to control the right side of the course early. El Desafio had worked their way up to second but had to take a penalty at the top of the second beat. They may have relinquished second to Audi Q8, but they came back with a fighting final run, stealing low on a gust of wind pressure to take third and spoil Synergy’s chances of two podium results in the one day.

While the Quantum Racing Team added a further 11 points to their Circuit leading margin by virtue of their 4,8,1 today to lead by 52.8 points over Bribón, it was the Audi Q8 and Synergy crews who showed the most marked improvements. Audi Q8 have modified their keel bulb, and changed the afterguard to use double Olympic medallist Charlie McKee (USA) as tactician - who sailed with many of the core crew on the Luna Rossa America’s Cup programme - and he is backed up here by Thierry Peponnet (FRA) as strategist.

Excellent performance for the Russians in the first day of the Portugal Trophy. Synergy is 3rd, a mere point behind Quantum and AUDI Q8. Portimao, 16 September 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

“The boat is going better after modification to the stability, and it is going in a good way for sure.” Said Peponnet, “And I find a good way to work with Charlie and it is a really nice way to sail. I think before there were problems of confidence and boat speed. If you don’t have confidence in the way you sail then that affects your tactics and the way you can do tactics compared to other boats. But for sure these changes have motivated everybody. I think the reaction of the crew has been great, and Charlie is doing a really good job there.”

Sergiy Pichugin (UKR), Helmsman of Synergy (RUS): “We realized everything today – we had some very good racing, the team were really focussed and there was great concentration, everything came together. Hard work, good preparation for this regatta and also before this regatta we have had quite a few good results but it has just not reflected in the overall points, today we can take the results and the points! We worked very hard as a team and now we look like a team, we just needed the time to come together and get the confidence in ourselves.”

The TP52 fleet under spinnaker. Portimao, 16 September 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

Riccardo Simoneschi (ITA), Skipper-owner-helmsman of Audi TP52 powered by Q8: “We finally have the boat set up in a proper way which gives us confidence and we are back to a better way of sailing. It is what we have been looking for and struggling over during the last few months. I think that we sailed well and basically now have the speed to hang on when we are in trouble and get through the pack and that does make a difference.”

Terry Hutchinson (USA), Helmsman-skipper of Quantum: “It was a really good day, our goal was to go out and average fifth so and we beat that so it was a great day. An incredibly mediocre start in the first race and Morgan (Larson), Mark (Mendelblatt) and Ian (Moore) did a good job in getting us back to a four.In the next race had a tangle with Bribón at the top mark. We are not 100% sure how that would have unfolded in the protest room but given our position in the event we considered it a prudent thing to do for us to do a penalty turn so we did and then won the last race. The middle race was awesome, we came out of the situation last and battled back to an eighth, and in some ways the fact that we beat Bribón in that race was a really strong testament to the team.”

Portugal Trophy - Standings after three races

1. Quantum USA (4,8,1) 13

2. Audi Q8 ITA(2,9,2) 13

3. Synergy RUS (9,1,4) 14

4. El Desafio ESP (10,2,3) 15

5. CXG Corporación Caixa Galicia ESP (7,3,9) 19

6. Mutua Madrileña ESP (12,4,5) 21

7. Tau Andalucía ESP(3,14,6) 23

8. Matador ARG (8,5,10) 23

9. Bribón ESP (1,11,12) 24

10. Artemis SUE (5,7,13) 25

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI MedCup] In brisk winds and moderate seas off Cartagena nothing could be taken for granted in conditions which exposed strengths and weaknesses in virtually equal measure to produce and exciting pair of races on the second day of the Region of Murcia Trophy, the penultimate Audi MedCup Circuit regatta of the 2008 season.

The day’s biggest misfortune visited Platoon powered by Team Germany and Quantum Racing proved they are entirely fallible. Honours were shared evenly between a consistent Mutua Madrilena scoring a pair of second places to take a share the same points tally as overall regatta leaders Bribón after the Spanish boat went into the protest room and won, ensuring the disqualification of Artemis from Race 3 of the regatta.

Desafio finished third in the first race and went on to win the second race to lie third overall.

With the muscular winds at between 15 and 21 knots the gusty breeze shifted direction regularly up the course to mix the dividends on either side of the track, whilst downwind there were always extra gains to be made in the surfing conditions.

Platoon powered by Team Germany won the tussle for the boat end of the start line in the first race and were able to work right early, going on to win, but they were only just minutes into executing the same game plan in the second race when a forestay fitting failed and they had to retire immediately. While they were unlucky to miss out on the second contest of the day, Platoon were also counting their blessings that there was not a third race.

While Platoon were able to extend, winning from Alberto Roemmers’ Matador (ARG) which has the sprightly veteran owner Rommers on board this week, enjoying the conditions, Bribón had only just battled back from a modest opening round when they were involved in an incident at the second leeward turn with Artemis (SWE). While Bribón sailed clear and did a penalty turn subsequently the two crews went in to the protest room with Bribón winning and Artemis suffering disqualification from race 4.

On the Audi MedCup Circuit the protest result means second placed Artemis lead third placed Bribón by just 2.2 points.

After a 40 minutes delay between Race 3 and Race 4 of the regatta as the breeze settled in at due East, a second good start for El Desafio gave them the chance to work the right as John Cutler (NZL) and Paul Cayard (USA) conspired to give the Spanish America’s Cup team their first Audi MedCup winning gun of the season, following hard on the heels of their recent success winning the class at Copa del Rey.
Desafio were able to get ahead at the first windward mark and the combination of polished crew work and the ability to sail their own race from the front saw Desafio convert their early lead to a win by 57 seconds over Mutua Madrilena.

Quantum Racing struggled off the second start line. At twenty seconds they were tacking up on port to get height up to the line and when the gun wnet the Audi MedCup Circuit leaders were slow and flat footed. Last off the start line they worked hard to get back to third at the top of the second beat, but they lost five places down a thrilling final run to score a weighty eighth.

“I sailed like a lemon.” said a visibly frustrated Terry Hutchinson (USA), “That’s all there is to it.”

Mutua Madrilena were fast in the conditions, confident in their calls and able to sail to their strategy, and eliminated the mistakes that hampered them earlier in the season. Only at the first mark, first time up did they blot their copybook with a twisted kite hoist, but they took three places on the second beat when they were able to gain the right, and then a further five boats on the final run.

At the top of the Region of Murcia Trophy regatta standings it is now Bribón who lead Mutua Madrilena with both on 15 points, with El Desafio third two points behind them on 17 and Quantum Racing fourth on 18pts.

“ We had a plan of what we wanted to do, we toughed it out and our side came through and we sailed a clean race. Today it was nice for us to make it stick. There have been times in the past where we have been in the lead in the past and worked our way back into the pack. Today was nice and everyone did a nice job. We are a bit more relaxed. We have been working very hard on some downwind techniques to get a bit more speed. Just learning a bit more each time. It has taken a bit of while to get one on the board, but it is important to feel that we can win. Paul has had some more time on the boat and things are going well.” said John Cutler. “We are really liking it here. The conditions are interesting, challenging and different and it is a nice City.”

“It was interesting today because the breeze was shifting and you really needed to stay in phase with it, and if you were allowed to do that you did well. There was a very definite pattern to it and staying in phase was the name of the game.” said Nacho Postigo (ESP) Mutua Madrilena’s navigator. “ In general we have been going well since Cagliari but just needed to cut out the stupidmistakes, and I think we did that today.”

Paul Cayard, Skipper/Helmsman of El Desafio
“ We had a decent start and John had a good game plan. He wanted the right in both races and we managed to get over there, and we did a good job of cashing in when it was time or being patient when we had to wait for a shift. Nacho did a great job trimming the main because there were very difficult conditions out there especially on port tack, it was very rough and hard to keep the speed. When it is that rough you have to find the right trim where the boat has the best balance and the guys kept the boat balanced very well both up and downwind, and we didn’t lose our composure.”

Jochen Schuemann (GER), Skipper/Helmsman of Platoon powered by Team Germany:
“I think the superstition came true again, after winning the practice race as today we won the first regatta, and had a good start to the last one, but after just a quarter of the first beat we broke the head stay and had to retire. A little luck with no third race means we only lose one and I think we can make repairs rapidly to be back in it again tomorrow. We are obviously keen to get good results here, it is very bad luck to break a piece which is hard to check – it either hold or it breaks, but these pieces should be solid enough on an offshore boat.”

Region of Murcia Trophy Regatta
Standings after four races. Updated after protest:

(Position, R1, R2, R3, R4, total points.)

1 Bribón ESP (1,3,8,3, 15)
2 Mutua Madrileña ESP (6,5, 2, 2, 15)
3 El Desafio ESP (9,4,3,1, 17)
4 Quantum Racing USA (5,1,4,8, 18)
5 Matador ARG (2,6,5,5, 18)
6 Caixa Galicia ESP (4,10,6,6, 26)
7 Platoon powered by Team Germany GER (11,2,1,15,DNF, 29)
8 Audi Q8 ITA (8,7,7,7, 29)

9 Artemis SWE (3,9,15 DSQ, 4, 31)

10 Synergy RUS (12,8,9,9, 38)

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI MedCup] In brisk winds and moderate seas off Cartagena nothing could be taken for granted in conditions which exposed strengths and weaknesses in virtually equal measure to produce and exciting pair of races on the second day of the Region of Murcia Trophy, the penultimate Audi MedCup Circuit regatta of the 2008 season.

The day’s biggest misfortune visited Platoon powered by Team Germany and Quantum Racing proved they are entirely fallible. Honours were shared evenly between a consistent Mutua Madrilena scoring a pair of second places to take a share the same points tally as overall regatta leaders Bribón after the Spanish boat went into the protest room and won, ensuring the disqualification of Artemis from Race 3 of the regatta.

Desafio finished third in the first race and went on to win the second race to lie third overall.

With the muscular winds at between 15 and 21 knots the gusty breeze shifted direction regularly up the course to mix the dividends on either side of the track, whilst downwind there were always extra gains to be made in the surfing conditions.

Platoon powered by Team Germany won the tussle for the boat end of the start line in the first race and were able to work right early, going on to win, but they were only just minutes into executing the same game plan in the second race when a forestay fitting failed and they had to retire immediately. While they were unlucky to miss out on the second contest of the day, Platoon were also counting their blessings that there was not a third race.

While Platoon were able to extend, winning from Alberto Roemmers’ Matador (ARG) which has the sprightly veteran owner Rommers on board this week, enjoying the conditions, Bribón had only just battled back from a modest opening round when they were involved in an incident at the second leeward turn with Artemis (SWE). While Bribón sailed clear and did a penalty turn subsequently the two crews went in to the protest room with Bribón winning and Artemis suffering disqualification from race 4.

On the Audi MedCup Circuit the protest result means second placed Artemis lead third placed Bribón by just 2.2 points.

After a 40 minutes delay between Race 3 and Race 4 of the regatta as the breeze settled in at due East, a second good start for El Desafio gave them the chance to work the right as John Cutler (NZL) and Paul Cayard (USA) conspired to give the Spanish America’s Cup team their first Audi MedCup winning gun of the season, following hard on the heels of their recent success winning the class at Copa del Rey.
Desafio were able to get ahead at the first windward mark and the combination of polished crew work and the ability to sail their own race from the front saw Desafio convert their early lead to a win by 57 seconds over Mutua Madrilena.

Quantum Racing struggled off the second start line. At twenty seconds they were tacking up on port to get height up to the line and when the gun wnet the Audi MedCup Circuit leaders were slow and flat footed. Last off the start line they worked hard to get back to third at the top of the second beat, but they lost five places down a thrilling final run to score a weighty eighth.

“I sailed like a lemon.” said a visibly frustrated Terry Hutchinson (USA), “That’s all there is to it.”

Mutua Madrilena were fast in the conditions, confident in their calls and able to sail to their strategy, and eliminated the mistakes that hampered them earlier in the season. Only at the first mark, first time up did they blot their copybook with a twisted kite hoist, but they took three places on the second beat when they were able to gain the right, and then a further five boats on the final run.

At the top of the Region of Murcia Trophy regatta standings it is now Bribón who lead Mutua Madrilena with both on 15 points, with El Desafio third two points behind them on 17 and Quantum Racing fourth on 18pts.

“ We had a plan of what we wanted to do, we toughed it out and our side came through and we sailed a clean race. Today it was nice for us to make it stick. There have been times in the past where we have been in the lead in the past and worked our way back into the pack. Today was nice and everyone did a nice job. We are a bit more relaxed. We have been working very hard on some downwind techniques to get a bit more speed. Just learning a bit more each time. It has taken a bit of while to get one on the board, but it is important to feel that we can win. Paul has had some more time on the boat and things are going well.” said John Cutler. “We are really liking it here. The conditions are interesting, challenging and different and it is a nice City.”

“It was interesting today because the breeze was shifting and you really needed to stay in phase with it, and if you were allowed to do that you did well. There was a very definite pattern to it and staying in phase was the name of the game.” said Nacho Postigo (ESP) Mutua Madrilena’s navigator. “ In general we have been going well since Cagliari but just needed to cut out the stupidmistakes, and I think we did that today.”

Paul Cayard, Skipper/Helmsman of El Desafio
“ We had a decent start and John had a good game plan. He wanted the right in both races and we managed to get over there, and we did a good job of cashing in when it was time or being patient when we had to wait for a shift. Nacho did a great job trimming the main because there were very difficult conditions out there especially on port tack, it was very rough and hard to keep the speed. When it is that rough you have to find the right trim where the boat has the best balance and the guys kept the boat balanced very well both up and downwind, and we didn’t lose our composure.”

Jochen Schuemann (GER), Skipper/Helmsman of Platoon powered by Team Germany:
“I think the superstition came true again, after winning the practice race as today we won the first regatta, and had a good start to the last one, but after just a quarter of the first beat we broke the head stay and had to retire. A little luck with no third race means we only lose one and I think we can make repairs rapidly to be back in it again tomorrow. We are obviously keen to get good results here, it is very bad luck to break a piece which is hard to check – it either hold or it breaks, but these pieces should be solid enough on an offshore boat.”

Region of Murcia Trophy Regatta
Standings after four races. Updated after protest:

(Position, R1, R2, R3, R4, total points.)

1 Bribón ESP (1,3,8,3, 15)
2 Mutua Madrileña ESP (6,5, 2, 2, 15)
3 El Desafio ESP (9,4,3,1, 17)
4 Quantum Racing USA (5,1,4,8, 18)
5 Matador ARG (2,6,5,5, 18)
6 Caixa Galicia ESP (4,10,6,6, 26)
7 Platoon powered by Team Germany GER (11,2,1,15,DNF, 29)
8 Audi Q8 ITA (8,7,7,7, 29)

9 Artemis SWE (3,9,15 DSQ, 4, 31)

10 Synergy RUS (12,8,9,9, 38)

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI MedCup] Bribón made their best start to an Audi MedCup Circuit regatta since the start of the season in Alicante, when they won the first race of the Region of Murcia Trophy Regatta and followed up with a strong third place to take an early two points advantage over the ever consistent Audi MedCup Circuit leaders Quantum Racing.

The waters off Cartagena, a new venue for the MedCup Circuit, have already dealt a new set of challenges for the crews and the regatta organisers. The deep waters shelve sharply to the shore and the adjacent steep mountainsides swirl the breezes. Combined together the choppy, big, disorganised seas and the shifty winds, which ranged from 14-21 knots today, were an invitation to the opportunists and smart, slick sailors. Certainly the opening day of this fifth regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit did not simply bow down and respect the speeds of the newer boats in the fleet, and there were plenty of chances to use the wind shifts and big waves.

While series leaders Quantum Racing relinquished their early lead in the race when they fouled their spinnaker sheet on the first hoist, Bribón’s winning tactics carried the same hallmarks as previous race victories this season.
After a modest first beat to lie 12th behind leaders ONO (ESP) and Caixa Galicia (ESP) then double Olympic medallist Ross MacDonald (CAN) used the shifts downwind for helm Dean Barker (NZL) to challenge on the second beat and cross the bows of both boats, going on to win by 27 seconds from Matador (ARG) which has Thierry Peponnet (FRA) serving as tactician, with Artemis (SWE) third.

Quantum Racing made no such errors in the second race and went on to win, leading from first mark to the finish, although Platoon powered by Team Germany - also looking to atone for a less than perfect first race - pushed the American boat to the gun, the Audi backed German boat timed across just one second behind and losing out only on one final surge by Terry Hutrchinson on the helm of Quantum.

Platoon lost out at the windward mark, first time up in the first race, when they tried to make a port tack approach and ended up having to duck to the back of a very busy starboard tack line up, skipper Jochen Schuemann (GER) reporting later that they were forced to sail all day with no instruments.

While the two leaders duelled down the final run, so too it was close between Bribón and Spain’s El Desafio which has Paul Cayard (USA) back on the helm. Bribón had to swap spinnakers in a hurry on the final run, but managed to hold off the Spanish America’s Cup team by three seconds to reserve third place and the regatta lead is theirs.

“It was great, good waves and different open race course, nice to get a shifty race course. We took a few boats on the first run of the first race, and Ross did some nice work on the second beat and in the second race we managed to come away with a third, so we are pleased with that. It was shifty and pretty puffy, and so it was really nice racing, and the forecast is for even more tomorrow and so it might even be a bit like Marseille. One of the things today was there was opportunities on both sides of the race course, and then the nice thing is when you do get a bit of an opportunity to mix it up, it works. It was really good for us. We are slowly getting more and more out of this boat, but we are certainly not as quick as the newer boats. In that breeze our speed is OK, but not as good as the newer boats.” said Dean Barker (NZL), Bribon’s helm.

Terry Hutchinson (USA), Skipper-Helmsman of Quantum Racing (USA): “ It was a disappointing first race, we had a great work up the first beat and rounded the top mark in the lead, we set our spinnaker and then the spinnaker sheet got wrapped around the coaming in the back of the boat, and started sawing through the back of the boat – a little bit of a worry! Our eight or nine boat length lead went down to zero and from there we were passed by all, but again the guys did some great work on the last run and we got back into fifth. In the second race we got the end of the line we wanted but I didn’t do such a good last wrap-up, but if today is anything to go by it is going to be full-on this week, and some awesome racing expected. It’s a good feeling to get started again. The race committee did some great work out there holding the marks, because these conditions are pretty tough on everybody.”

Ignati Triay (ESP), jib trimmer on Bribon: “Nobody is used to these kinds of conditions, you get the feeling you are in the middle of the sea, rather than in a bay or gulf, or some kind of protected area like in Marseille, Cagliari or Palma. The shape of the coastline, coupled with a north-easterly wind on a race course set quite far from the shore means that you have a more open-water effect, and with big seas. The wind does its own thing which leaves tactics wide open. What most impressed me today was coming back from a 12th on the first beat to a 3rd on the following run, after choosing the right downwind along with ONO and CXG which put the three of us in the lead at the gate. There are a lot more options than in a normal bay and that makes the competition fantastic.”

Guillermo Parada (ARG) skipper of Matador (ARG): “It was a good Start to the week since we didn’t sail brilliantly and made quite a lot of mistakes, and even then got some decent results. It has been a while since we sailed with this kind of wind and there were a few errors, as well as my starts not being too good either. I am going to have to read the manuals again, but if we can get it all straightened we will be feeling confident.” “ The boat is going well and we still have quite a few new sails both for here and Portimao. We have run our programme well so we still have some good material to use. The race course is tough, and the depth and shifts makes it very hard for the committee to lay the marks, something we have to keep an eye on especially at the start, as they move around quite a lot!”

Steve Hayles (GBR), Navigator of Matador: “It was very tricky out there, big wind and waves and although the breeze was up it was very shifty. Normally when the wind is up it doesn’t move around so much but with the two winds, and big mountains inland it makes it very hard to fathom out. We felt quite confused at times but we have come away with a couple of good results so as an opener that’s not bad!”

If conditions stay like this it certainly is going to make very interesting racing upwind and downwind with lots of place changes. Often in these races things don’t usually alter after the first beat but there was a lot going on out there today; a huge amount at stake which obviously makes it very interesting. When you are in the lead it is hard to maintain and behind there are always good opportunities to get by- an interesting week ahead of us for sure!”

“ Thierry Peponnet and I are a new partnership, I haven’t worked with him before but I’m really enjoying it. Of course every one works in a different way and that takes some time to fit in individually. It is an on-going battle to keep in the top three and look at results overall and not just this regatta.”

Standings, Region of Murcia Trophy
After two races.
(Place, Boat, Nationlaity, R1, R2 Points total)
1. Bribón ESP (1,3, 4)
2. Quantum Racing USA (5,1, 6)
3. Matador ARG (2,6,
4. Mutua Madrileña ESP (6,5, 11)
5. Artemis SWE (3,9, 12)
6. Platoon powered by T. Germany GER (11,2, 13)
7. El Desafio ESP (9,4, 13)
8. Caixa Galicia ESP (4,10, 14)
9. Audi Q8 ITA (8,7, 15)
10. Rusal Synergy RUS (12,8, 20)

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI MedCup] Bribón made their best start to an Audi MedCup Circuit regatta since the start of the season in Alicante, when they won the first race of the Region of Murcia Trophy Regatta and followed up with a strong third place to take an early two points advantage over the ever consistent Audi MedCup Circuit leaders Quantum Racing.

The waters off Cartagena, a new venue for the MedCup Circuit, have already dealt a new set of challenges for the crews and the regatta organisers. The deep waters shelve sharply to the shore and the adjacent steep mountainsides swirl the breezes. Combined together the choppy, big, disorganised seas and the shifty winds, which ranged from 14-21 knots today, were an invitation to the opportunists and smart, slick sailors. Certainly the opening day of this fifth regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit did not simply bow down and respect the speeds of the newer boats in the fleet, and there were plenty of chances to use the wind shifts and big waves.

While series leaders Quantum Racing relinquished their early lead in the race when they fouled their spinnaker sheet on the first hoist, Bribón’s winning tactics carried the same hallmarks as previous race victories this season.
After a modest first beat to lie 12th behind leaders ONO (ESP) and Caixa Galicia (ESP) then double Olympic medallist Ross MacDonald (CAN) used the shifts downwind for helm Dean Barker (NZL) to challenge on the second beat and cross the bows of both boats, going on to win by 27 seconds from Matador (ARG) which has Thierry Peponnet (FRA) serving as tactician, with Artemis (SWE) third.

Quantum Racing made no such errors in the second race and went on to win, leading from first mark to the finish, although Platoon powered by Team Germany - also looking to atone for a less than perfect first race - pushed the American boat to the gun, the Audi backed German boat timed across just one second behind and losing out only on one final surge by Terry Hutrchinson on the helm of Quantum.

Platoon lost out at the windward mark, first time up in the first race, when they tried to make a port tack approach and ended up having to duck to the back of a very busy starboard tack line up, skipper Jochen Schuemann (GER) reporting later that they were forced to sail all day with no instruments.

While the two leaders duelled down the final run, so too it was close between Bribón and Spain’s El Desafio which has Paul Cayard (USA) back on the helm. Bribón had to swap spinnakers in a hurry on the final run, but managed to hold off the Spanish America’s Cup team by three seconds to reserve third place and the regatta lead is theirs.

“It was great, good waves and different open race course, nice to get a shifty race course. We took a few boats on the first run of the first race, and Ross did some nice work on the second beat and in the second race we managed to come away with a third, so we are pleased with that. It was shifty and pretty puffy, and so it was really nice racing, and the forecast is for even more tomorrow and so it might even be a bit like Marseille. One of the things today was there was opportunities on both sides of the race course, and then the nice thing is when you do get a bit of an opportunity to mix it up, it works. It was really good for us. We are slowly getting more and more out of this boat, but we are certainly not as quick as the newer boats. In that breeze our speed is OK, but not as good as the newer boats.” said Dean Barker (NZL), Bribon’s helm.

Terry Hutchinson (USA), Skipper-Helmsman of Quantum Racing (USA): “ It was a disappointing first race, we had a great work up the first beat and rounded the top mark in the lead, we set our spinnaker and then the spinnaker sheet got wrapped around the coaming in the back of the boat, and started sawing through the back of the boat – a little bit of a worry! Our eight or nine boat length lead went down to zero and from there we were passed by all, but again the guys did some great work on the last run and we got back into fifth. In the second race we got the end of the line we wanted but I didn’t do such a good last wrap-up, but if today is anything to go by it is going to be full-on this week, and some awesome racing expected. It’s a good feeling to get started again. The race committee did some great work out there holding the marks, because these conditions are pretty tough on everybody.”

Ignati Triay (ESP), jib trimmer on Bribon: “Nobody is used to these kinds of conditions, you get the feeling you are in the middle of the sea, rather than in a bay or gulf, or some kind of protected area like in Marseille, Cagliari or Palma. The shape of the coastline, coupled with a north-easterly wind on a race course set quite far from the shore means that you have a more open-water effect, and with big seas. The wind does its own thing which leaves tactics wide open. What most impressed me today was coming back from a 12th on the first beat to a 3rd on the following run, after choosing the right downwind along with ONO and CXG which put the three of us in the lead at the gate. There are a lot more options than in a normal bay and that makes the competition fantastic.”

Guillermo Parada (ARG) skipper of Matador (ARG): “It was a good Start to the week since we didn’t sail brilliantly and made quite a lot of mistakes, and even then got some decent results. It has been a while since we sailed with this kind of wind and there were a few errors, as well as my starts not being too good either. I am going to have to read the manuals again, but if we can get it all straightened we will be feeling confident.” “ The boat is going well and we still have quite a few new sails both for here and Portimao. We have run our programme well so we still have some good material to use. The race course is tough, and the depth and shifts makes it very hard for the committee to lay the marks, something we have to keep an eye on especially at the start, as they move around quite a lot!”

Steve Hayles (GBR), Navigator of Matador: “It was very tricky out there, big wind and waves and although the breeze was up it was very shifty. Normally when the wind is up it doesn’t move around so much but with the two winds, and big mountains inland it makes it very hard to fathom out. We felt quite confused at times but we have come away with a couple of good results so as an opener that’s not bad!”

If conditions stay like this it certainly is going to make very interesting racing upwind and downwind with lots of place changes. Often in these races things don’t usually alter after the first beat but there was a lot going on out there today; a huge amount at stake which obviously makes it very interesting. When you are in the lead it is hard to maintain and behind there are always good opportunities to get by- an interesting week ahead of us for sure!”

“ Thierry Peponnet and I are a new partnership, I haven’t worked with him before but I’m really enjoying it. Of course every one works in a different way and that takes some time to fit in individually. It is an on-going battle to keep in the top three and look at results overall and not just this regatta.”

Standings, Region of Murcia Trophy
After two races.
(Place, Boat, Nationlaity, R1, R2 Points total)
1. Bribón ESP (1,3, 4)
2. Quantum Racing USA (5,1, 6)
3. Matador ARG (2,6,
4. Mutua Madrileña ESP (6,5, 11)
5. Artemis SWE (3,9, 12)
6. Platoon powered by T. Germany GER (11,2, 13)
7. El Desafio ESP (9,4, 13)
8. Caixa Galicia ESP (4,10, 14)
9. Audi Q8 ITA (8,7, 15)
10. Rusal Synergy RUS (12,8, 20)

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI MedCup] The fifth venue of the 2008 Audi MedCup, Carthagena in Spain, proved to be just as challenging as expected today, with Platoon powered by Team Germany coming out best to take the practice race win.

With between 9 and 11 knots of wind the Carthagena race course was affected by two wind systems: a gradient breeze from around 180 degrees and, closer inshore, and a more northerly thermal pressure system from around 120 degrees. “It’s actually a very difficult place to go sailing in, there’s two winds – a gradient wind and a sea breeze – and it’s very subtle,” explained Matador’s navigator Steve Hayles. “Thierry [Pepponet, Matador’s tactician] and myself spent quite a lot of time before the start trying to fathom it out, and it wasn’t easy.”

With a port end-favoured line and most tacticians aiming for the left-hand lane going up the first beat, the pin end was a little crowded. El Desafio (ESP) opted to take the right-hand side of the spread-out fleet, whilst Platoon (GER) — who are currently lying sixth overall in the Audi MedCup — led the pack up the left of the beat and around the top mark. Matador (ARG) carried on the longest up the shore side of the course to round in third, just behind Artemis (SWE). German multiple Olympic medalist Jochen Schuemann on Platoon held on to the lead down the run, but Matador came past Artemis into second. At the final top mark Platoon rounded with Matador hot on their heels, the pair matching each other gybe for gybe but Platoon held on to get the first gun. Behind them Bribon (ESP) had a great second run to finish seconds after Matador in third, followed by CxG Corporación Caixa Galicia (ESP), while series leaders Quantum Racing (USA) were back in tenth.

The fleet at the start of the practice race. Carthagena, 25 August 2008. Photo copyright Thierry Martinez / AUDI MedCup

Platoon’s first place was a timely present for Tim Kroger (GER), their mainsail grinder, who is 44 today. “I think if we get our act together this week we can be on the podium again; the boat and team have the potential but you also need that little bit of luck to get the show rolling. We are quite confident but not overly so, as the competition is very tough, but today we had some good practice starts and good speed, so I think we have a good chance. We will certainly work very hard to make it happen.”

Matador’s navigator Steve Hayles (GBR) was also pleased with their team’s second — they are currently lying fifth overall in the 2008 Audi MedCup. “The only shame is having done a half decent job today the whole thing will be very different tomorrow. I think the sea breeze is going to die a bit and the gradient breeze, which here is offshore, is going to be a lot stronger, and that will change it. But it’s good fun trying to fathom it all out, it’s actually interesting to go to a new place.

“We’re one of the most improved boats. We were average to good at the start of the year, and we’ve been getting stronger and stronger as the year’s gone on. We’ve made lots of improvements, including our techniques, we’ve been a lot more active with our coaching – we kind of knew we had to step it up. We’ve got an eye on the regatta; we’d always be looking for a top three at the regatta, and there’s a reasonable chance that we could be a really strong boat in the Audi MedCup Circuit overall as well. Two regattas to go and we’re in fifth spot but Mean Machine have dropped and out and we’re not too far behind.”

“Matador really wants to win this regatta which is tough on me!” added Matador’s tactician Thierry Pepponet (FRA), who joins the team from Audi Q8. “They finished second in the Breitling Regatta, and they want a better result so that just leaves winning! It is a lot of pressure, but I like that and I am sure all the people on board and the boat can do it; we will do all we can to achieve that goal!”

The fleet sailing downwind during the practice race. Carthagena, 25 August 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI MedCup

Ed Reynolds (USA), Project Manager of Quantum, the current Audi MedCup leaders: “This of any of the events had us the most worried since it was such an unknown — trying to get weather data, or any historical perspective has been really tough, but I’m pretty sure everyone has been through the same thing. We came here thinking it would be a light air venue but now it looks like it may well be a breezy regatta right through to Friday which makes us feel a little better, especially in the situation we are in right now. A light fluky racecourse is just so nerve-racking! We would like some nice consistent breeze, see where the shifts fall and take it from there!

“Getting good boatspeed is a never-ending battle, and identifying modes and today the main focus was getting everybody back communicating so we can start the team dynamics again; the afterguard is made up of such diverse personalities so that was our biggest focus. We never use our race sails for the practice race so are always maybe a touch off the pace.”

Racing for the Region de Murcia Trophy starts tomorrow (Tuesday August 25th) at 1300hrs with up to three windward-leeward races scheduled.

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI MedCup] Quantum Racing sit on the threshold of back-to-back regatta wins after a second and a first today on the Bay of Palma to go into Saturday’s two final races of the 14th Breitling Regatta with a lead of 14 points.

Reeling off 2,2,1,1,2,1 finishes since Wednesday morning the American boat, the only new Botin Carkeek TP52 design this season, may now have a 30 points overall lead on the 2008 Audi MedCup Circuit standings, but skipper Terry Hutchinson (USA) again pledged that he and the Quantum Racing crew will be relentless in their pursuit of improvement and the overall Circuit title.

“ Every day we just try to get better and it would be garbage now to think that we cannot improve, so I will be relentless in the pursuit of improvements, and I will impress that upon the guys strongly, and I think that everyone takes that approach.” emphasised Hutchinson again in the later afternoon sunshine on the buzzing dockside today in Puerto Portals.

Over another day of near perfect but challenging sea-breeze conditions, building from nine knots during the first contest to 15 knots in the second race, Quantum Racing finished second behind Guillermo Parada (ARG) and the 2007 King’s Cup wining team on Matador in the first race, and then triumphed in the second race ahead of the current MedCup champions Artemis (SWE), to extend their overall regatta and circuit leads.

On a course area which consistently yielded a benefit on the right side of the track, Hutchinson and crew worked hard and smartly, building from a pair of good starts, to reap that dividend.

At the top of the second beat on the first race they left just enough daylight in the lifting breeze as they lined up for the final turn for Matador to seize the inside boat advantage around the buoy, and they had to settle for a close second only five seconds behind the Argentinian boat.

Ricardo Simoneschi (ITA) and the Audi powered by Q8 (ITA) crew took third place for the second time this week.

Start of the race during the 4th day of the Breitling Regatta. Puerto Portals, 25 July 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / Pierre Orphanidis

While the race course was slightly one-sided, there were no shortage of opportunities in the form of stronger pressure and wind shifts to gain places, especially downwind.

After an eighth in the first race, John Kostecki (USA) helped guide Artemis on a valuable ascent from eighth to second, taking five places on the first run.

In the overall Breitling Regatta standings, the strong performance on their adopted home waters from Matador meant the team whose Marseille regatta was so badly marred by damage to their boat, hit their twin targets for the day: wresting second place in the regatta from Platoon powered by Team Gernany (GER) -now six points behind in third - and elevating themselves to fifth overall on the Audi MedCup Circuit standings.

The 30 points gap that Quantum Racing now has may look significant, but consider that Mean Machine (MON), the winners this season in Alicante and the 2006 champions, have unexpectedly landed 43 points from three races since Thursday morning, and so Quantum’s margin remains very tenable.

The TP52 fleet downwind during the 4th day of the Breitling Regatta. Puerto Portals, 25 July 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / Pierre Orphanidis

Terry Hutchinson (USA), Skipper-helmsman of Quantum Racing: “You can always get better! We led the first race but Matador were going well and we chose the deeper of our two jibs for that second beat and the breeze built a little which was a bit difficult then, Matador are fast down wind and slipped past us there, but always our mode is consistency and good sailing and we talked through the things we can do better- technically driving the boat downwind, communication: understand what the guy is saying, sail calls, bottom mark decision, little incremental improvements to work on.”

“I’m happy we are sailing well but I’m not relaxing either. I’m very respectful as always of our competitors so I just know we have to keep the whole thing moving forward.”

Chris Hosking (AUS), Boat captain, Artemis: “It is a lot tighter than it has been in previous years. There are any number of good boats out there, and you look at what happened to Mean Machine in Marseille and to them yesterday, that is an unfortunate day, but they are an excellent team and I know they will keep fighting through to the end of the year, but that is capable of happening to any boat in this fleet, it could be us tomorrow, it could be Quantum.”

Guilermo Parada (ARG), Skipper-helm of Matador (ARG): “The level on the race course is most definitely higher.. We have had the proof of that with our boat which is the same as last year, but we have had to raise our speed target since we are sailing faster and faster by the day. The boat is sailing at least three tenths of a knot faster upwind than last year which is about 4% faster; a huge difference in this kind of fleet. That makes the difference of whether you cross a boat or can get to the more favoured side. You can also see how the boats in the fleet that haven’t been able to do the whole circuit are paying the price for it, because being able to keep up the rhythm and spending hours on the water with these people is what makes it easier for us to keep bringing up our own level as well.”

Ray Davies (NZL), Mean Machine (MON): “We have to work on the starts and speed and not make silly mistakes, we are definitely in the top group for speed, get off the line in clean air, we are sometimes a bit conservative which takes us away from the favoured side. You have to weigh up if you go for the risky move or the safe option – sometimes when the course is so favoured the risky move is still the safe option! It’s a real tricky balance.”

Regatta standings after nine races

Place, Boat name, Nationality, (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5,R6, R7A, R7B, R8, R9 Total Points)

1. Quantum Racing USA (11,2,2,8,2,2,1,1,2,1, 32)

2. Matador ARG (3,1,3, 9, 7, 1,9,9,1,3, 46)

3. Platoon powered by Team Germany GER (7,4,6,7,6,6,2,2,7,5, 52)

4. Artemis SWE (4,11,5,5,10,3,3,3,8,2, 54)

5. Mean Machine MON (1,5,1, 2,1,7,15,14,14,6, 66)

6. Mutua Madrileña ESP (2,12,8, 4,5,5,7,5,10,10, 68)

7. Bribón ESP (5,10,4,1,11,12,12,6,9,4, 74)

8. Audi Q8 ITA (15,7,15,3,8,4,13,10,3,13, 91)

9. Rusal Synergy RUS (12,3,13,13,14,9,5,4,12,7, 92)

10. El Desafio ESP (14,13,14,6,3,14,6,11,4,9, 94)

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI Medcup] A perfect day for Quantum Racing and a black day for Mean Machine sees the Audi MedCup Circuit leaders take over the lead of the 14th Breitling Regatta off Puerto Portals, Mallorca.

Their best Coastal Race of the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008 season so far, winning both sections of today’s 34.2 miles passage back and forth across the Bay of Palma not only increased Quantum Racing’s lead at the top of the Circuit leader board to 23 points of clear daylight, but as erstwhile leaders of the 14th Breitling Regatta Mean Machine had a day they would rather forget, so the American boat also earned a lead of 11 points in the regatta standings.

After a delay of one hour and 35 minutes to wait for the light sea breeze to settle to a solid direction, the first start and first beat set the shape of the race.

While Terry Hutchinson (USA) made a well timed, confident start mid line on Quantum Racing (USA), Mean Machine (MON) were still three and a half boat lengths shy of the pin end of the start line on the gun, fighting to get their upwind Code Zero out.

Quantum hurt in an initial loss when the left did not pay but were able to use the wind shifts and better pressure on the middle of the first beat to best effect to round the first mark with a small lead Valars (RUS) and third placed Jochen Schuemann (GER) and the crew of Platoon Powered by Team Germany (GER). After the German boat overhauled Valars on the first downwind leg, the day belonged to Quantum Racing and Platoon.

The second beat was no less shifty and difficult to read, and near the top Platoon were able to hook into a right shift to get inside Quantum Racing at the windward turn where the fleet bore away to kite reach across the Bay to the Sech island turning mark.

The breeze pattern across the Bay proved remarkably similar to last year, and with the Scoring Gate midway mark set off the entrance to the Puerto Portals marina, in full view of the Audi MedCup Circuit regatta village, the breeze there was at its most fickle. Down the bottom of what had become a slow, sticky run in 5 knots of breeze Platoon made the mistake of gybing a little early for the line, and just allowed an opportunity which Morgan Larson (USA), Quantum Racing’s tactician was happy to seize.

Quantum Racing, helmed by Terry Hutchinson, leads the coastal race and the Breitling Regatta. Puerto Portals, 24 July 2008. Photo copyright Thierry Martinez / AUDI Medcup

The Circuit leaders were able to steal the first place by two or three metres, 11 seconds. The crucial advantage, leading away from the gate was Quantum’s.

From there Platoon again fought back as the breeze built to 16 knots and lifted on the tight reach across the Bay, and they were just a boat length behind Quantum at the Arenal turn, but again Quantum’s crew work was the slicker, gybe-hoisting on to their reaching kite, while Platoon stalled momentarily in their gybe.

By the finish, back in the light, fickle breeze off the Portals marina, Quantum Racing had worked through to be over three minutes ahead of Platoon, with Artemis (SWE) taking third, gaining six places on the first half of the race.

With two second places Platoon powered by Team Germany (GER) swapped places with Mean Machine, rising to second place in this 14th Regatta Breitling, while Matador’s pair of ninths today leave them to third with two days of racing to go.

Having just yesterday got themselves back into joint second place in the overall Regatta standings Mean Machine’s 15th and then 14th today leaves the 2006 MedCup Champion team with a mountain to climb, again with just two regattas left after Saturday.

Ian Moore (IRL), Quantum Racing’s navigator recalled: “The first beat was really difficult. We wanted to go left, like everybody did, but we decided that there was slightly better wind pressure up the middle of the course. We got a great start out of the middle of the line, blew off everyone to the right of us and were living well above everyone to leeward and then it went quite left and we could not live with it, and made big losses but we stuck it out and lived with it, a minute or so making big losses, tacked over with a really great lane to the right, suddenly all the guys to the left of us were in no pressure and we were right back in the hunt. We were winning, we were deep, we were winning, all on the first beat. It was about shifts and pressure. The rest of the day went pretty much exactly to plan.”

Moore continued: “In fact everything we said in the forecast and the geography of the day, happened. I have never been so right about the wind and what was going to happen geographically in any race in ant regatta. It did exactly what we expected it to do, going light - as it did last year with that big light patch around Portals - and increasing as you go across the Bay to Arenal. That was the breeziest part of the day. When you have that left hand sea breeze blowing like it did today then the right hand corner is always light. Morgan (Larson), unbelievably, had never sailed here before so he brings fresh eyes to it, he can be a bit more open minded about it, it was a really good combination today. We needed to get a good result and unfortunately for Mean Machine they did not have a great day. But obviously a very good points wise for us, but you would not wish it on any one but it helps in the overall and in the regatta.”

Part of the fleet rounds the Sech island. Puerto Portals, 24 July 2008. Photo copyright Thierry Martinez / AUDI Medcup

Tom Dodson (NZL), Mean Machine’s strategist explained:

” At the start we wanted the left side of the course and we wanted the Code Zero to get there, but unfortunately you lose a little bit of manoeuvrability, so we got buried there, pretty badly, but going the right way - we thought - and probably the fleet thought too, but when the breeze started going right then that was pretty much against anything that we had thought about, and that put us pretty deep. We fought our way up the second beat and then it went left and we were just on the wrong side most of the day. The shame is that this is a double points and races you can’t discard. And we had got so far back up the Circuit leader board, as well, but that’s harsh it about these Coastal Races, but that is the rules and we all know it. And then once you do get behind, after the first windward-leeward, it just gets to be a bit of a one way track. There is not a lot of coming back.”

He says the team will bounce back again: “So we just need to wear this, like we did in Marseille, and start winning a few inshore races. We seem to be used to coming back, and all you need is one good day again to get rolling. Some of these guys today are feeling pretty good about themselves after having a good day, and we have been there, so all you need is one good day, but for us it is pretty hard to look at these points from today, and figure out what to do. I think these two days, in Marseille and here, will prove importantIf any team can come back from this, then it’s this one. As a crew we’ll be out there fighting tomorrow, like we always are. The boat is going well and we are sailing it well and that hasn’t changed.”

Breitling Regatta

General standings, 7 races 8 results

(Place, Boat Name, Nation P1, P2, P3, P4, P5,P6, P7A, P7B Total points)

1. Quantum Racing USA (11,2,2,8,2,2,1,1, 29)

2. Platoon powered by Team Germany GER (7,4,6,7,6,6,2,2 40)

3. Matador ARG (3,1,3, 9, 7, 1,9,9, 42)

4. Artemis SWE (4,11,5,5,10,3,3,3 44)

5. Mean Machine MON (1,5,1, 2,1,7,15,14 46)

6. Mutua Madrileña ESP (2,12,8, 4,5,5,7,5 48)

7. Bribón ESP (5,10,4,1,11,12,12,6 61)

8. Rusal Synergy (12,3,13,13,14,9,5,4 73)

9. Cristabella GBR (8,6,9,11,4,10,10,15 73)

10. Audi Q8 ITA (15,7,15,3,8,4,13,10 75)

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Peter de Ridder’s team were on top of their game when they chased Bribón across the finish line of the first race before going on to win the second race by a comfortable margin, but once again it was their ability to rescue a solid single digit result from the depths of the fleet early in Race 6 of the regatta which also highlights their class in this fleet.

With the Embat sea breeze peaking at 13 knots Mean Machine (MON) won their 11th victory from 31 starts when Peter de Ridder (NED) got the best of a busy tussle at the committee boat end of the line, pulling away from Quantum Racing (USA) to tack early and gain the right hand side of the course.

First at the windward mark they were able to extend and win by over one minute from Quantum Racing in second.

It was off the pin, left hand end of the line that Dean Barker (NZL) helm and Ross MacDonald (CAN), tactician, were able to engineer a win in the first race of the day, much to the pleasure of SM Juan Carlos, who enjoyed steering Bribón across the finish line. But Bribón could not match that early success and dropped to an eleventh and then a twelfth, falling to seventh overall for the regatta and relinquishing the second overall on the Audi MedCup Circuit they held at the start of this regatta.

And Guilermo Parada (ARG) and the crew of Matador (ARG) topped off another strong, consistent day when they got the better of Circuit leaders Quantum Racing on the final, exciting run to win the third race of the day to cement their second place three points ahead of the American boat which is steered and skippered by Terry Hutchinson (USA).

The TP52 fleet in the second day of the Breitling regatta. Puerto Portals, 22 July 2008. Photo copyright Thierry Martinez / AUDI Medcup

In such typically Palma sea breeze conditions it was the right side of this race course which was almost always favoured, often making the starts the most critical and the most exciting part of each race.

Indeed while the breeze was dropping a little during the third race, the right hand end of the start line, at the committee boat was busy, with three boats shut out.

A final shift on the last run allowed some significant place changing. Mean Machine proved her strengths downwind when they recovered three places on the first run to eighth and then again on the second run when they rose from 11th to seventh.

While Mean Machine enhanced their position atop the 14th Breitling Regatta leader board, the 2006 MedCup Champions team will take a certain satisfaction in now sharing the same points tally as second placed Artemis (SWE) on the Audi MedCup Circuit standings, proving their steady recovery after being disqualified from the Coastal Race in Marseille.

“ It was a good day for us again today.” said Ray Davies (NZL), Mean Machine’s tactician, “ We had a bit of strife in the last race when we got tied up with Cristabella and Desafio and they fouled us pretty bad but we had a good last run and we were able to get a decent result. We gybed at the buoy and were able to take the pressure down low and then we gybed early and were headed and so we got the fast mode all the way to the finish and took some more boats. It headed about 15 degrees. And so we are back up to second overall on the standings and that is a relief after Marseille, to be back to up to second. From disastrous regatta in Marseille to be back here is good. Quantum are just playing Mr Consistent which is the way to win events. Today it was important to get good starts and choose the correct side, the right was favoured especially.”

Quantum Racing and Mutua Mardileña in the second day of the Breitling regatta. Puerto Portals, 22 July 2008. Photo copyright Thierry Martinez / AUDI Medcup

“ We made a couple of mistakes over the day, but it was good. In the first race we went hard left on the first leg but we were able to come back on the last run so we saved the race.” reported Guilermo Parada, skipper-helm of Matador“ We did average in the second race, nothing specially wrong and nothing specially right, and that made it very hard. And in the last race again we modified the tune a little bit more and were going very quick, we had a good start and were able to hold Quantum until the very last run and we were quicker downwind and were able to force them out to one corner.”

“ We stayed low and pushed them to the left corner and managed to get down inside them and so when they gybed we were on their wind, we gybed back again and forced them to the corner, and on the last time we were on their wind and able to roll them.”

“ It is about averages, about keeping single digit finishes. Tomorrow will be an important race, and the final results will start to emerge and so we hope we can keep this up. Every time we have a good start and have boat speed we are able to do well.”

The double points coastal race around the full span of the Bay of Palma is scheduled tomorrow.

Dean Barker, Helmsman of Bribón:

“We had a good start to the day and just couldn’t keep it going. An average second, a bad start to the third and just never really quite got back into it – a tough day and frustrating. But the boat is going well and we are sailing it well, we just have to try and capitalise a bit more when we have the opportunities.”

“In every race we have been able to put our finger on one thing or other we can improve but it is so close with some huge competition and after the start today being so good we just couldn’t quite repeat it.”

“We need a good race tomorrow to get ourselves back into it, today was disappointing for a number of reasons but tomorrow if we can bounce back with good results we’ll be right there again.”

Breitling Regatta, Puerto Portals, Mallorca.

Overall standings after 6 races.

(Place, boat name, nationality, P1, P2, P3,P4, P5, P6, total points)

1 Mean Machine MON (1,5,1, 2,1,7, 17)

2 Matador ARG (3,1,3, 9, 7, 1, 24)

3 Quantum Racing USA (11,2,2,8,2,2, 27)

4 Mutua Madrileña ESP (2,12,8, 4,5,5, 36)

5 Platoon powered by Team Germany GER (7,4,6,7,6,6, 36)

6 Artemis SWE (4,11,5,5,10,3, 38)

7 Bribón ESP (5,10,4,1,11,12, 43)

8 Cristabella GBR (8,6,9,11,4,10, 48)

9 Audi Q8 ITA (15,7,15,3,8,4, 52)

10 Tau Cerámica Andalucía ESP (6,8,12,12,15,8, 61)

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI Medcup] De Ridder and his team sailed to two race wins and a fifth place to share the same overall points tally as Alberto Roemmers’ Argentinian boat Matador, but by virtue of the tie break it is the 2006 MedCup champions who top the Breitling Regatta leader board after a challenging day reading the shifting, changing breezes off the Mallorcan capital city.

At times the sea breeze was fitful as the oppressive, clammy heat and cloud cover stifled any increase in wind strength and with big wind shifts in direction, and variations in pressure it was not an easy day for the tacticians to decipher.

Consistency across the three races was vital. With Italy’s Francesco Bruni calling the tactics for skipper-helm Guillermo Parada, Matador’s two third places sandwich their first race win this year to form their strongest start to an Audi MedCup regatta yet this season.

But it was a day where every hard earned place was vital as Mean Machine proved when they pulled up from ninth at the first leeward mark in the second race to earn their fifth, while their two race wins were the direct reward for smart starting near the extremes of the line and choosing the preferred side of the beat.

With the wind peaking at 11 knots and at times as low as six or seven knots, the ability to change gears and adapt for best boat speed was equally important over what has been a day of the lightest average wind speeds since the opening regatta, back in May in Alicante.

The TP52 fleet in the opening day of the Breitling regatta. Puerto Portals, 22 July 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

In 6-8 knots of breeze Mean Machine won the first race after starting from the left side, pin end of the start line and was able to cross Mutua Madrilena (CHI) half way up the first beat and stay in control of the race from the first windward mark to the finish gun.

Matador’s race win came after a less than perfect start when they were able to escape to the right side of the course, rounding the first mark hard on the heels of Quantum Racing (USA). On the downwind leg Matador used one wind shift a little better and were able to round the leeward mark in first place, going on to win from Quantum Racing.

And in the third race Mean Machine were able to extend to the right side of the course in a light breeze, tracking ahead of Quantum Racing.

Finishing second gave the American boat, steered by Terry Hutchinson (USA), a 11,2,2 scoreline for the day. After struggling early in the first race a gain of three places on the final run by Quantum Racing proved as important as they open their lead to ten points on the AudiMed Cup Circuit standings.

After three races Mean Machine and Matador both have seven point aggregates, eight points clear of third placed Quantum Racing, with Jochen Schuemann (GER) and Platoon powered by Team Germany lying fourth on 17 points.

“Without doubt today pressure was king.” reported Ray Davies (NZL), Mean Machine’s tactician, “We probably saw a variance of up to five knots over the race course at times, so it was really vital to be able to change gears a lot, the trimming team did a really good job of keeping the boat powered up in the lulls and Peter did a really good job of starting. We had two good starts at the pin end and a very good start between Artemis and Quantum at the windward. We had really good speed, the boat seems to go well in the light air as we did in Alicante. We have learned a lot since she was new and we were fast in Alicante and fast here, probably especially downwind.”

The TP52 fleet in the opening day of the Breitling regatta. Puerto Portals, 22 July 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

“ The overall feeling today is obviously positive, I am very happy we have started the regatta so well and two times out of three we started well. And in the race we started bad we were in the right position. We have always understood well how the wind shifts here and the boat speed in particular is a result, in part to a new set up of the mast that we are testing for a light wind and waves Part of our success today is due to the speed of the boat and partly the way we sailed the wind shifts.” comments Francesco Bruni (ITA) Matador’s tactician.

Terry Hutchinson (USA), Helmsman -skipper of Quantum Racing (USA), said:

“ It was a good recovery in that first race - in fact every time we did something well, someone would tack on us and send us back which I guess is a complement! But we did really nice work in the last half of the last run to pass four boats so that was really good. The next two races the other positive was we bounced back strong. We highlighted a couple of things in our strategies prior to this; I didn’t have a good start which was part of it and we were a little impatient with a couple of things, we were eight points out of lead. But it is good to see that the boat and changes with the sails and stuff have all been good steps forward- plenty of racing to go!”

Guillermo Parada (ARG), skipper-helm of Matador (ARG), said

“ It has been the best start to the season so far, lets hope it continues! Today we made some changes once again on board with a few new sails and the set up of the mast based on the data we have from last year, as we have sailed really well in Palma in the past. Fortunately it seems to still be working, we hope that continues to be the case for the rest of the week. Palma is our home, the boat is comfortable in these waters and so are we and I suppose that has its positive influence on us,”

Peter de Ridder (NED), owner-skipper-helm of Mean Machine (MON), said:

“I’d love to win the gold and silver Breitling Trophy (a silver and gold cap) again, I think the cap suits me! (joking) Today was a nerve-racking day with light airs and quite puffy and shifty, but we had a good couple of starts. We tried to play the game conservatively and it worked very well. We had two starts on the pin which in itself is not conservative, but there was a big hole, and then relied on our boat speed. From there we sailed nicely in phase for all three races. We like being in Palma, a smaller scaled venue, it’s a relaxing environment and I think that gives you a nice mental ease!”

Breitling Regatta, Puerto Portals, Mallorca.

Overall standings after 3 races.

(Place, boat name, nationality, P1, P2, P3, total points)

1 Mean Machine MON (1,5,1, 7)

2 Matador ARG (3,1,3, 7)

3 Quantum Racing USA (11,2,2, 15)

4 Platoon powered by Team Germany GER (7,4,6, 17)

5 Bribón ESP (5,10,4, 19)

6 Artemis SWE (4,11,5, 20)

7 Mutua Madrileña ESP (2,12,8, 22)

8 Cristabella GBR (8,6,9, 23)

9 Tau Cerámica Andalucía ESP (6,8,12, 26)

10 Rusal Synergy RUS (12,3,13, 28)

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Valencia Sailing) and software by Elliott Back

[Source: AUDI Medcup] One year ago this week Terry Hutchinson (USA) was a key member of the Emirates Team New Zealand crew which had only just narrowly lost the 32nd America’s Cup match against Alinghi.

Today off the Sardinian capital of Cagliari, Hutchinson and his team aboard Quantum Racing (USA) won a regatta of the 2008 Audi MedCup Circuit for the first time, lifting the Audi Region of Sardinia Trophy.

Quantum finished third in Alicante in May and fifth in Marseille last month and now, at the theoretical mid-point of the six regatta season, after 26 races the American boat tops the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008 standings.

A great, but intense final day of racing took full advantage of the continuing Mistral winds, blowing between 13-17 knots. An early morning start allowed three sharp windward-leeward to be completed by early afternoon.

It was only on the final run of the final race that Hutchinson and the Quantum Racing crew did just enough to beat Mean Machine (MON), Peter de Ridder’s 2006 champion team, who are guided tactically by Hutchinson’s former key crew-mates ETNZ tactician Ray Davies (NZL), along with navigator Kevin Hall (USA).

At the final windward mark of the regatta’s deciding 10th race, Quantum Racing and Mean Machine sat locked together on the same points aggregate, and only by passing Spain’s America’s Cup Team on El Desafio and Matador (ARG) did Quantum Racing emerge triumphant by two clear points.

With Hutchinson steering, Morgan Larson (USA) as tactician and Athens Olympian Mark Mendelblatt (USA) helping out for the first time as strategist and ‘guest’grinder, Quantum Racing won four of the 10 races and never finished worse than sixth.

Quantum Racing crosses the finish line and win the Cagliary Trophy. Cagliari, 5 July 2008. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

Sweden’s Artemis, the defending 2007 MedCup Champion finished with a flourish today with a third and two first places to finish third overall at the regatta.

But for hitting the windward mark first time up in the first race, which required a penalty turn, then, second time round, taking a another, Artemis might have made it a final day hat-trick. Even after their first penalty they regained the lead by the second windward mark before their second transgression.

Quantum set their stall for the day out by winning the first race, starting off the left, pin-end of the line. Artemis passed them again on the second beat, but Hutchinson and crew were able to capitalise when the Swedish boat had to make their turns.

In the second race Quantum could only make a sixth when they lost two boats on the final, puffy, shifty run, but the pendulum swung back on the final race when they were able to finish fourth to Mean Machine’s third.

Quantum Racing, the only new 2008 Botin & Carkeek design in the TP52 MedFleet and the only boat using Quantum Sails, now leads the 2008 Audi MedCup Circuit by 6.2 points ahead of Jose Cusi’s Bribón (ESP) which lead when the Circuit arrived here for the first time ever in Sardinia, last weekend, while Artemis now lies third 7.8 points behind Bribón.

The Gulf of Cagliari has offered the Audi MedCup Circuit fleet a great test across a broad range of conditions, from modest sea breezes for Thursday’s 32 mile coastal race, to 30 knots of Mistral which limited competition to just one race on Friday. Today, racing up in the north of the bay in the offshore breeze there were plenty of wind shifts and small puffs and gusts to satisfy the needs of the tacticians.

“ I am a little relieved.“ smiled Hutchinson when asked about their win, “You have to take your hats off to the Mean Machine guys, they kept fighting after the first race, they did nice work in the second and in the third, as did we. Everything that we worked on prior to the regatta has been better here. Out starting was better, our boat was going faster, we are slowly improving our equipment and our sails, to a point where it is very nice, and the faster you get the easier it gets. I think we have to keep working hard at getting more out of our boat.”

“ It has been a really good test, but we still leave stuff on the table, and so the good news too is that we can still get better as well. I think everyone can enjoy this win for what it’s worth for a day or two, but there is still 30 races or whatever it is, and so we are only about half way there.”

And of the comparisons with last year’s Cup and the fact that he and Mark Mendelblatt, and Ian Moore (GBR, who was navigator on the ETNZ B boat) are on Quantum, helm Dean Barker is on the steering wheels for Bribon and Ray Davies is on tactics and Kevin Hall (USA) for Mean Machine, Hutchinson continues:

“ Today it is fun to be talking to Deano (Dean Barker, NZL, former Team New Zealand helm) because a year ago we were all in such a much different environment and so I can promise you that the stresses of this don’t come close to comparing to the stresses of that, so it is always nice to be out there racing. The amazing thing here is that the after guard of Team New Zealand is pretty well represented. It is really good. And I am really happy for the guys at Quantum, they have invested a massive amount into our programme and the guys support us with our sails, day in day out, fine tuning our sail shapes, learning from our competitors, learning about our boat, picking things that we like and making our sails better.”

“ I think our strengths with the boat now a