Audi MedCup - Day 5 - Cartagena

What the MedCup Sailors Said From The Dockside

Photo: Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup

Gonzalo Araújo (ESP), Skipper, Bribón (ESP):

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

“I´m very happy, both for me and for our teammates. This year we´ve worked really hard and we have been rewarded because we´ve been able to see that with a good boat we are able to be there with the best, something that we didn´t have last year, and that made us feel impotent. I was not in the team when the last trophy was won here in Cartagena, but it´s very especial, because the level here, it´s as high as it can get. 

"The fact that we won in Spain makes it really special because there is so many people that you know around. José Cusí, the owner, deserves this trophy because he´s made a great effort to have us here, sailing with a new boat. He also has an unbelievable career behind him, so he deserves this and a lot more.”

Vasco Vascotto (ITA), strategist of Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA):

Azzurra leading Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

"We look at the good things, I think we have done our best regatta of the year, and already in Cagliari we did a good job showing that we are alive and fighting. We recovered in a good way after the bad luck of yesterday, not giving away even a metre. Maybe we could do something more today, but the fact that we were 6th on the top mark, and we finished second passing Quantum on the line, it's a signal that I like more than any other. Until now we are always been on the podium, third in Cascais and Marseille, and second in Cagliari and here. We don't say anything, but if in Barcelona would arrive that result that misses, we will have a double surprise.”

Marcel Van Triest (ESP), Navigator, Bribón (FRA):

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

“It feels great, we´ve been progressing during the season. I remember that we had some issues in Cascais, we started doing better and recently we won the Copa del Rey, and it was really good for morale. We did some good things here, we are really happy about that. There´s really not a specific reason why we sailed so clean and consistent all week, we like it when it´s not a one-sided race course because it suits us fine. I don´t know about us sailing that clean, we took a penalty in this event. You need some good luck, of course, it´s important that things go your way. As I said, we are happy with our boat´s speed, it´s going really well. As a team we´ve always been a good team, with a great atmosphere and I think that it eventually pays off”.

Ignasi Triay (ESP), Trimmer, Bribón (ESP):

Photo: © Guido Trombetta_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

“We are very happy, because believe it or not, the last time that we won an Audi MedCup Trophy was right here, in Cartagena, three seasons ago. We´ve been fighting and fighting for so many years with this crew, that they deserve this for all the hard work they´ve done for such a long time. I personally want to dedicate the victory to them, because it´s tough to keep the chemistry and a good atmosphere when you are not getting the best results, that´s why this goes to them. As a team, we´d like to dedicate the Trophy to our owner, José Cusí, because unfortunately he couldn´t be here with us today and share with us such beautiful moments.”

Adrian Stead (GBR), Tactician, Quantum Racing (USA):

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

“Bribón and Azzurra sailed very well this week, consistently, they stepped up to it, and we´ve had good races and bad races. Today we´ve had some problems, because we basically broke our primary winch in both races. Down the last run we actually couldn´t gybe at times, we gave away a first, and that made it really hard. We still up there in the Circuit, we need to stay solid and begin to think about the next event with a new approach. As far as I´m concern we are in front here and we are going to stay in front."

Markus Wieser (GER) skipper-helm Container (GER):

Container  Photo: Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup

"We are disappointed, no doubt. Very frustrating trophy for us. We sailed not good, because we were not fast enough and that makes you loosing your confidence in your strategy and your tactics as well. Our change to a light wind set-up didn't really worked out. We definetely lost ground to most of the other boats. Than you get mentally under pressure to do better, but negative pressure is the last thing you need to be successful. It's a shame in the overall circuit ranking, but we should keep in mind that we are newcomers in this class. Myself I had never steered a TP 52 before Cascais. So there's plenty to learn for us and we have to analyze our mistakes and fight back strongly in Barcelona always keeping in mind, it's not over until its over."

Audi MedCup Media

Bribon Saviour Their Sweet Victory at MedCup Cartagena

Bribon have been on a roll since their Copa del Rey win in Palma, Mallorca earlier this month and today won the  2011 Audi MedCup Circuit’s fourth regatta of the season, the Region of Murcia Trophy - Cartagena.

Photo: Guido Trombetta_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

Their consistent results with seven top three finishes over nine races were unmatched among the rest of the fleet.

Today Bribon showed their fighting spirit when they recovered from being last at the first mark of the first of today's two races. After choosing the wrong side of the first leg, double Olympic medallist Ross MacDonald (CAN) guided them down the right side of the first downwind and by the first leeward gate they had a slight advantage and finishing second to Synergy.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

They finished the nine race series with a winning margin of three points over Italy’s Audi Azzurra Sailing Team.

The unique camaraderie onboard was a key element for this Spanish flagged team's success in conquering Cartagena's rugged stretch of water renowned for it's tricky winds influenced by the high cliffs, valleys and headlands that surround the race course area.

Bribon celebrate Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Helmsman Gonazalo Aurajo (ESP), who only joined the team last year and other core crew members of the Bribon crew have racked up 10 years sailing together. Several times during racing they were able to squeeze keynote results from difficult positions, sometimes even on the final wave or final puff of wind.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

“For so many years we’ve been fighting, fighting alongside each other in this crew and so they deserve this for all the hard work they´ve done for such a long time. I personally want to dedicate the victory to them, because it´s tough to keep the chemistry and a good atmosphere when you are not getting the best results. That´s why this goes to them. As a team, we´d like to dedicate the Trophy to our owner, José Cusí, because unfortunately he couldn´t be here with us today and share with us such beautiful moments,” said Ignasi Triay (ESP), Bribon's project manager and trimmer. 

Photo: Guido Trombetta_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

Making up the podium in third is Quantum Racing (USA) who suffered a breakdown with their primary winch in both races today and paid the price. They arrived in Cartagena as circuit leaders with a seven points advantage over Container (GER) and leave with a fight on their hands.

With Bribon's win it now means a different team has won each of the four regattas so far this season after Quantum Racing in Cascais, Portugal, Container in Marseille, France and Audi ALL4ONE in Cagliari, Italy. 

Region of Murcia-Cartagena Trophy
52 Series
Results after nine races 

1. Bribón (ESP), 2+5+1+2+2+3+3+2+5= 25 points
2. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 5+1+4+5+1+1+6+3+2= 28 points
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 3+2+6+6+4+7+1,5+6+3= 38,5 points
4. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR), 4+7+7+1+5+5+4,5+5+1= 39,5 points
5. Container (GER), 7+4+3+4+3+2+9+7+4= 43 points
6. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 1+3+5++3+7+6+10,5+1+7= 43,5 points
7. RÁN (SUE), 6+6+2+7+6+4+7,5+4+6= 48,5 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+13,5(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)= 85,5 points

2011 Audi MedCup Circuit, standings after four regattas of five
52 Series
Standings after four events:

1. Quantum Racing (USA), 19 + 30 + 42+38,5= 129,5 points
2. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 32,5 + 37+35,5+28= 133 points
3. Container (GER), 31,5+28,5+38+43= 141 points
4. Bribón (ESP), 47,5 + 38+37+25= 147,5 points
5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 37+39,5+44,5+43,5= 164,5 points
6. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR) 58 + 43,5+26,5+39,5 =167,5 points
7. Ràn (SWE), 40,5+41,5+43,5= 125,5 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 85,5+47+85,5+85,5= 303,5 points

Lulu Roseman

Bribon Wins Audi MedCup Region of Murcia-Cartagena Trophy

With one race to spare the Spanish flagged team Bribon's fifth place in the final race today was enough to secure them the regatta.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Their Italian rivals Audi Azzurra Sailing Team finished three clear points behind and taking third on the podium is Quantum Racing. 

Photo: Nico Martinez/MedCup

Bribon's skipper-helm Gonjalo Aurajo with tactician Ross MacDonald, project manager Ignasi Triay and navigator Marcel Van Triest together with their crew fought hard all regatta in what proved to be a very challenging event in varying conditions.

Lulu Roseman

Cartagena - Day 4 - Highlights (ENG)

Sailors Speak Dockside After Coastal Race - Audi MedCup Cartagena

Francesco Bruni (ITA), Tactician, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA):

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

“We don´t like to speak about luck when we lose places but this time was really something special. We broke the halyard of the main, the little part that holds the sail up, and then it came down. We were just one hundred meters away for the end and the race was over for us. It really felt as if it was God´s sign for us not to win the coastal. We are doing well, we have to remember that we did a great regatta and keep going”.

Ed Reynolds (USA) project manager Quantum Racing (USA): 

Photo: Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

“Last night it was just everybody just looking at themselves and us all saying ‘we are better than this’. The upside of yesterday was that we did not every mistake that was made, sometimes you are just ‘what the hell just happened today?’ but it was not like that at all. It was like, ‘this is what we need to do…..’ and so today they sailed very well. It was tough. There is a lot of luck involved in sailboat racing but you have to be good enough to take advantage when it happens. These guys fought and clawed their way up to be ready to take advantage.

“It was fun having Terry here. I think that, in no way, shape or form do I want this to be construed as an excuse, but I think that the sea conditions yesterday we have an amazing powerful boat, but I think we have had three or four knots more we would have been fine, but where we were, in that mode, we just for the first time this year we were not very fast upwind. We analysed everything and nothing stood out as broken, but I am not sure it is a coincidence that Synergy struggled too.

“It was an amazingly important day. When we came into this we thought Azzurra would come good. When we saw them struggle in Cascais we thought’ these guys are too good for this. Watching them on the race course they are amazing sailors and my personal feeling is that they have been the threat since Day 1. It was just a matter of time before they found the gears. At first there was maybe a lot of speculation that the Audi boats maybe questions over them, but I don’t think there are questions now.”

Francesco Bruni (ITA), Tactician, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA): 

Photo: Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

“We don´t like to speak about luck when we lose places but this time was really something special. We broke the halyard of the main, the little part that holds the sail up, and then it came down. We were just one hundred meters away for the end and the race was over for us. It really felt as if it was God´s sign for us not to win the coastal. We are doing well, we have to remember that we did a great regatta and keep going.”

Gonzalo Araújo (ESP), skipper-helm Bribón (ESP):

Photo: Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

“It´s been a tough day, we worked hard.We had a bit of everything, good and bad luck. We recovered and fought, and at the end we were rewarded. We had an incident with ALL4ONE, and after we protested, they were penalised. We were getting to the port and the tacked really close to us, which made us tack also sending us to shallow water area, we nearly hit the bottom. What happened to Azzurra is very bad luck, because they had done an almost perfect race. Our efforts were rewarded today.”

Adrian Stead (GBR), Tactician, Quantum Racing (USA): 

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

“The key today was to keep working and stay focus the whole day through. I probably underestimated a fact, and that is that we actually went out this morning to have a look at the current at the shore and there was not much running. By the time we got there in the race it was strong at that hurt us. All credit to the blue boat, they sailed very well, we kept the pressure on them. Unfortunately, they broke the main halyard, we know how that feels from when we broke the backstay. It´s been great racing, we struggled yesterday and certainly today we needed this kind of result. Last night we sat down in the container to talk, we change our shirts from white to black, which I have to say are bloody hot, and went out there today.”

Jochen Schümann (GER) skipper-helm Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE: 

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup;

"We had an almost perfect race from the start up to 2/3rds of it controlling everyone nicely. But when we opt on the long downwind for the A4 our strongest gennaker, we were simply too slow. The others took about 100 to 150 metres out of our lead first and finally overtook us. We kept the race quite open after rounding the island, but were quite frustrated still which might have caused our fault on BRIBON when we tacked on their bow. So we got the penalty and managed to stick to the podium only because of AZZURRAs bad luck at the end. Usually we should be happy with a top 3 finish which we are obviously not today."

Quantum Are Too Quick in Cartagena

Quantum Racing's win in today's 25 nautical mile long coastal race puts them back on the podium in the overall standings behind Bribon and Azzurra. 

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

The tightly matched fleet was sent on a course that included an initial windward-leeward loop in the brisk nor’east Levant wind before a long five mile beat to Cabo Agua (east of Cartagena), followed by a long tactical run back with two sail reach inshore, around the rocky Pigeon Island before the final beat back into the harbour.

Photo: Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

The Gods were shining on Quantum while Azzurra was the recipient of some bad luck when a halyard lock strop failed when they were in a leading position 0.8 miles from the finish line. It was all over for the Italians when their mainsail came sliding down and by the time they managed a temporary fix they had slipped back into fourth place.

Photo: Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

Bribon's second place behind Quantum Racing, has the Spanish team now entering the final day of racing with five point margin over Audi Azzurra Sailing Team in the overall standings while Quantum Racing’s win promoted them from fifth to third overall.

The first upwind leg was a slog that challenged the tacticians and after starting at the committee boat end of the line both Azzurra and Audi ALL4ONE made excellent use of the extra offshore wind pressure to the right.

At the windward mark Azzurra lead their sistership by a narrow margin before an the an issue with  their spinnaker hoist cost them dearly and they fell back behind their rivals. But fighting spirit of Vasco Vascotto, Francesco Bruni and the Azzurra crew kicked in and they fought back hard to take places on the top third of the long beat and with an excellent run back, they re-established their lead on the run.

Azzurra looked like a sure thing to take victory when the mainsail drama struck allowing Quantum to whisk past while they made their makeshift repairs on the fly and grab the gun.

The 52 Series goes down to two final windward-leeward races.

Región of Murcia Trophy - Cartagena
52 Series

Results after seven races:

1. Bribón (ESP), 2+5+1+2+2+3+3= 18 points
2. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 5+1+4+5+1+1+6= 23 points
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 3+2+6+6+4+7+1,5= 29,5 points
4. Container (GER), 7+4+3+4+3+2+9= 32 points
5. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR), 4+7+7+1+5+5+4,5= 33,5 points
6. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 1+3+5++3+7+6+10,5= 35,5 points
7. RÁN (SUE), 6+6+2+7+6+4+7,5= 38,5 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+13,5(DNC)= 67,5 points

Quantum Racing Quash MedCup Fleet in Coastal Race at Cartagena

Quantum Racing pulled out all stops today in the breezy conditions to win the coastal race at the Audi MedCup Region of Murcia Trophy - Cartagena regatta. Perhaps the visit this morning from their 2008-2010 Skipper/Helmsman, Terry Hutchinson brought the team some much needed good luck.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup, 

Quantum have struggled with boat speed and minor tactical errors so today's bullet, their first for the event, was sweet music to the team's ears. Despite these challenges consistency proved to be their saving grace and they currently lie in third overall all behind Bribon and Audi Azzurra Sailing Team.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Lulu Roseman

Terry Hutchinson Drops in at MedCup Cartagena

Just look who was seen lurking around the docks at Cartagena today.

Terry Hutchinson Photo: Courtesy Quantum Racing

Terry Hutchinson, who was the Skipper/Helmsman of Quantum Racing for three MedCup seasons, 2008-2010, popped into Cartagena today to catch up on the gossip with his old team mates. Hutchinson left the circuit in 2010 to join Artemis Racing Team's America's Cup campaign.

Photo: Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup, 

He recently moved to Valencia with his family, so today was the perfect opportunity to come down and say hello to his extended sailing family and check out all the action.

"It's been nerve racking watching it on the Internet and the guys are fighting a good fight, so we keep wishing them well 'from afar' and hopefully they will keep plugging along. I am also here to support them," Hutchinson said.

Photo: Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup, 

It has been a difficult week so far for the Quantum Racing team.

"It swings in roundabouts. Everybody has to keep in mind that there has been a lot of changes on the boat and the three years that we had together leading up to this. It takes time to build a solid foundation with any team and the departure of some of the guys on the boat created an opportunity for new people to come onboard, race the boat and expose them to Quantum, so from that side it's all really good. But it takes time to build a very good team and I am confident that they are going to be successful."

Do you miss the Circuit?

"Oh yeah, how can you not miss it! But with every change, there is a new opportunity."

Can you tell us more about what you are doing now.

"I am the skipper of Artemis Racing and we are training towards the 34th Americas Cup. So we have just completed our first AC45 regatta in Cascais where we had moderate results. We finished 2nd in the fleet racing and 3rd in the Match Racing portions but BMW Oracle and Emerates Team New Zealand are of a very high standard right now and we have a little catching up to do, which is good. Much like Quantum Racing we are building a new team within Artemis Racing as well, so I am nothing but optimistic."

Lulu Roseman

Wind KIcks In For Coastal Race At MedCup Cartagena

With the arrival of the brisk nor'east Levant life becomes no simpler or straightforward than the light SW’ly sea-breeze which has marked the first three racing days at the Region of Murcia-Cartagena Trophy regatta. The stronger offshore breeze is set to top 20 knots, will be gusty and shifty especially close to the shore.

For the 52 Series today is their high scoring coastal race, carrying a 1.5points multiplier for the course which should be around 30miles.

For Bribon (ESP) they go afloat with a two points lead in the Trophy regatta on to a course they know well, but as the tactician off their main rivals Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA) Francesco Bruni noted this morning, the standard is so high and small mistakes are magnified immensely:
“…..one day you feel like a superstar and the next you feel like an idiot.”

So for Bribon there is the chance to extend their lead if they can post a good result and stay ahead of their Italian rivals.

Meantime Circuit leaders Quantum Racing (USA) have to start climbing again. After a 6,6,4,7 run the only way is up for the 2008 Audi MedCup champions. Terry Hutchinson (USA), longstanding skipper-helm, is paying the Circuit a visit today with his family, visiting from Valencia and has certainly had some words of encouragement for the team.

Marcel Van Triest (NED) navigator Bribon (ESP):

“The breeze has gone around to the Levant direction, the NE and ENE a bit fresher, it will be good strong conditions, 17-21 kts gusting to 25kts, blustery with this offshore breeze and that will make this coastal course interesting because there will be left hand breeze coming out of the harbour and right hand breeze coming round the headlands, so you have to make some big choices: go left trying to find the lefty or right trying to find the lefty and big holes under the cliffs. We have all done this course a few times and there are loads of opportunities. It is not over until it over.”
“ There is no more pressure than normal when you are leading, it is sailing, you go out and do your job the very best you can and that’s it.”

Francesco Bruni (ITA), Tactician, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA):

“Today´s an important day because we are all very close in terms of points in this trophy. We couldn´t ask for a better start this week, but as I said yesterday we have to keep sailing well and not make mistakes. It´s all about not making mistakes. The fleet is so good and close that one day you feel like a superstar and the next you feel like an idiot, we all have good days and bad days, it has happened to everyone. Bribón sailing is been really solid, they are doing a very, very good job”.

Audi MedCup Media

Racing Cancelled On Final Day Of Audi Hamilton Island Race

The wind was missing in action today at Hammo leaving the race committee no other option than to cancel the final day's races.

Photo: Andrea Francolini

It was disappointing end to the regatta and stark contrast to the 30+ knots of wind that competitors enjoyed earlier in the week.

Lulu Roseman

Video Highlights Audi MedCup Cartagena 2011 - Day 3

Azzurra On Top Of The World At MedCup

Audi Azzurra Sailing Team took two victories in the three races held today in the Audi MedCup Region of Murcia Trophy Cartagena delivered the wind and the race committee were able to make up the race postponed on the first day.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Azzurra got off to a bad start in the first race to finish in fifth place, but the following two races proved the tenacity of this team as they came back with two consecutive victories. Everyone gave their all: perfect manoeuvres, aggressive helming, flawless tactics and strategy. 

Excellent starts at the committee boat end paved the way for victory in the second and third races of the day thanks to tough competition, choppy seas, strong currents and unstable wind that shifted numerous times during both races. The third race was hair raising as Azzurra charged  ahead in the final downwind leg and overtook Container just before the finish.

"A great day," said tactician Francesco Bruni. "First of all Vasco Vascotto's great intuition in the last downwind leg of the first race, which helped us to limit the damage from a poor start, is to be commended. In the following races we took two victories thanks to great work from everyone. From Guillermo Parada's starts, to the difficult tactical choices, to the manoeuvres where the crew were top class. Naturally the boat being fast and well-balanced also contributed. These were two great victories achieved by the whole group."

Skipper Guillermo Parada was a tired and happy man at the end of the day.

"Today's result leaves us happy of course, but I prefer to keep my eye on the championship overall and to continue sailing well and consistently because we want to finish the season knowing that we did our best and that we are continually improving as a team," Parada said.

Audi Azzurra Sailing Team is currently placed second overall behind Bribon in this event.

Lulu Roseman

Italians Fly High at Audi MedCup - Day 3 - Cartagena

Windier conditions greeted the Audi MedCup sailors today with three exciting races held in 11-15 knots of breeze and choppy seas. 

Bribon Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Audi Sailing Team Powered by ALL4ONE, lead by Jochen Schuemann(GER), took out the day’s first race after an excellent start from the left hand pin end of the start line. The Franco-German team's focus saw them lead for most of the race and they crossed the finish line just three seconds ahead of Bribon.

Azzurra Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

In the second race Audi Azzurra Sailing Team's strategic game plan to start at the committee boat end of the line and stay on the right paid off as they took the gun ahead of Bribon on the finish line. The Spanish team picked up the pace and thanks to added wind pressure gained two valuable places on the last leg of the course.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Azzurra kept their momentum going in the final race of the day and the Italian duo of Vasco Vascotto on strategy and Francesco Bruni accurately picked the right shifting breeze to stay ahead of Germany’s Container all the way to the finish line.

Azzurra and ALL4One  Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

The current World Champions and Circuit leaders, Quantum Racing (USA) were off the pace and didn't have one of their best days scoring 6,4 and 7.

52 Series fleet Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

They seemed to struggle with boat speed in the awkward swell and paid dearly for a few small tactical errors. Their main title rivals, Container added salt to their wound by finishing five boats ahead of them in the day's final race.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

"For sure nobody is making it easy, it is great for the MedCup because I really think this is going to be tight to the end. Us? I don’t think we were very fast today, tactically we were weak, our starts were average. And with this fleet any minor mistake is just exploited so hard," said Ed Reynolds, Quantum Racing's project manager.

Azzurra Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

“The pressure is always there and it’s the same if you first, third or fifth. It is such a competitive fleet. Maybe we feel more support here in Cartagena from the local citizens, they always turn out to greet us when we come in, they are pushing and that always helps. But we come here with a very strong feeling after winning the King’s Cup, we feel we can do it and we believe in ourselves. We have a good tactician and a good team, I think the team was working so hard because some times we were not so good, but we just kept pushing,” said Bribon's trimmer, Ignasi Triay.

Bribon Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

The 52 Series fleet are expecting to race their high points value coastal race tomorrow.

Región of Murcia Trophy - Cartagena
52 Series

Results after six races:

1. Bribón (ESP), 2+5+1+2+2+3= 15 points
2. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 5+1+4+5+1+1= 17 points
3. Container (GER), 7+4+3+4+3+2= 23 points
4. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 1+3+5++3+7+6= 25 points
5. Quantum Racing (USA), 3+2+6+6+4+7= 28 points
6. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR), 4+7+7+1+5+5= 29 points
5. RÁN (SUE), 6+6+2+7+6+4= 31 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)= 54 points

Lulu Roseman

Azzurra Ace It At MedCup

The Italian team Audi Azzurra Sailing Team were unstoppable today in the breezier 15-17 knot sou'westerly conditions to rack up a pair of wins in the second and third races today at Audi MedCup in Cartagena.

Photo: NIco Martinez/Audi MedCup

ALL4One won the first race followed by Bribon and Synergy. Azzurra won the second ahead of Bribon and Container. In the final race of the day Azzurra continued their roll and smoked Container followed by Bribon.

Today's results elevate the Italians to second place overall behind the regatta leaders Bribon and ahead of Container.

Lulu Roseman

Whales Appear At Hammo

Today's mild, drizzly conditions and a 14-21 knot south easter were a stark contrast to the 30+ knot wild winds that whipped up the fleet earlier in the week.

Photo: Andrea Francolini

There was a rare whale sighting of a mother and calf humpback  in Whitsunday Passage, breeching as Bob Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI approached.

Wild Oats XI continued to dominate line honours to finish ahead of Investec Loyal and Lahana. 

Hooligan's overall win, their seventh from nine starts, sees Marcus Blackmore's TP52 in an unbeatable position on nine points well beyond the grasp of their nearest rival, Loki on 19 points.

It’s a similar story in IRC Class B, Darryl Hodgkinson’s Beneteau 45 Victoire five wins, two seconds and today’s third setting them up for an appearance on the stage at tomorrow night's official trophy presentation.

It is far from over in the remaining divisions of the the competition particularly in Performance Racing Division 2 where just two points separate the first six boats on the leaderboard.

“When it’s that close, you have to sail your own race and not worry about the tactical situations of the others,” said leading skipper Tony Coleman, one of three sitting at front of the pack on 38 points with his Sydney based J133 Euphoria.

Coleman’s secret weapon this week is one of the Island’s medical staff members who has never sailed before but has been on board for a day one win and also today’s win in one of the windward/leeward races. “She thinks sailing’s so easy,” laughed Coleman. Of course she’s been invited back for tomorrow’s ultimate race.

Lulu Roseman

Video Highlights Audi MedCup 2011 Cartagena - Day 2 - Highlights (ENG)

Bribon On Top at MedCup in Cartagena

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Light and flukey winds today continued to challenge the MedCup sailors racing off Cartagena as  Spanish TP52 Bribon grabbed the overall lead in the Region of Murcia-Cartagena Trophy regatta.

Photo: Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup

It's been a frustrating few days for the seven boat 52 Series fleet who have endured long postponements in the stifling heat waiting for the unsettled sea-breeze to fill in enough to go racing in conditions that are yet to reach 10 knots.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

Today there were no solid wind patterns from one leg to another. In the first race Italy’s Audi Azzurra Sailing Team won from the left, pin end of the start line to work the offshore side of the course, finishing ahead of Quantum Racing.

Photo: Guido Trombetta_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

Bribon are sitting pretty atop the leaderboard after they followed up their fifth place in the day's first race with a win against RAN in the second. Bribon’s double Olympic medal winning tactician Ross MacDonald did an astute job of keeping them in the best pressure as they held off RÁN to win by a whisker.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

The Spanish crew might be in an even better position if they hadn't copped a penalty during the second beat of the first race for infringing Quantum Racing (USA) which dropped them from second place to fifth.

Region of Murcia Trophy – Cartagena
52 Series
Results after three races:

1. Bribón (ESP), 2+5+1=8 points
2. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 1+3+5= 9 point
3. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 5+1+4=10 points
4. Quantum Racing (USA), 3+2+6=11 points
5. RÁN (SUE), 6+6+2=14 points
6. Container (GER), 7+4+3=14 points
7. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR), 4+7+7=18 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 9(DNC)+9(DNC)+9(DNC)=27 points

Lulu Roseman

Aussie Soto 40 Team Update - MedCup Cartagena

In the first race of the day the young Aussie team on Patagonia by the Australian Soto 40 Team lead down the final run in the Soto 40's but lost out to NH Resorts who stole victory.

Photo: Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup

Trying to contain Iberdrola, Brent Fowler's team opened the door for Ngoni in the final seconds and allowed the British crew to get second.

Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

In the second race Ngoni converted a big lead at the first mark to a comfortable win, their second winning gun of the season. They now lead the regatta overall after their second place in the day's first race.

Results after two races

1. Ngoni 2,1
2. NH Resorts 1,3
3. Iberdrola Team 4,2
4. Patagonia by Australia Soto 40 Team 3,4
5. WWW.Cruiser.Racer.Com 5,5

Lulu Roseman

Bribon Bounce Back in Race 3 - MedCup Cartagena

Bribon bounced back from their disappointing result in the previous race to win Race 3 of the Region of Murcia-Cartagena Trophy by smoking Niklas Zennstrom's RAN by a second on the finish line. With that win the Spanish team now leads the regatta by just one point from Synergy Russian Sailing Team.

Photo: Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup

The testing late afternoon conditions were a balancing act between a favourable shift offshore, to the left, and pressure inshore to the right. Bribón lead around the first mark but was overtaken by RAN after an inspired first run restored the mainly British crew to second at the leeward gate.

RAN Photo: Ian Roman/Audi MedCup

They managed to get inside Bribon as the pressure fell on the approach to the final windward mark, but Bribón were able to sneak across the finish line a second ahead of RAN.

Just three points separates the top four boats overall in the 52 Series after three races, all contested in winds which have yet to reach 10 knots.

Lulu Roseman