ICAP Leopard, the 100ft super-maxi racing yacht owned by Helical Bar PLC chief executive Mike Slade, today announced the required weather window for her record attempt has finally arrived. She will leave New York on Saturday 29th May in her bid to become the fastest monohulled sailing vessel ever to cross the Atlantic.

ICAP Leopard’s weather router, the internationally renowned Roger “Clouds” Badham, yesterday informed the crew that a suitable weather window will open on Saturday and Chris Sherlock, skipper and boat captain, took the decision to pull the trigger on the record attempt.
Throughout the night ICAP Leopard’s berth in Newport, Rhode Island has been a hive of activity as final preparations were made, provisions taken onboard and the assembly call was fired out to ICAP Leopard’s highly experienced crew of ocean record-breakers.
Amongst the crew currently flying to New York are some familiar faces such as Ericsson four crewman Guy Salter, experienced watch leader Mark Thomas and veteran navigator Hugh Agnew, but also several new members of the ICAP Leopard team. This newer contingent includes English bowman Freddie Shanks and Aussie watch leader Anthony “Youngster” Merrington, both fresh from the Green Dragon campaign in the 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race. Also onboard will be world-renowned ocean racing experts Justin “Juggy” Clougher, Michael Joubert and Guillermo Altadill who have amassed no fewer than 11 Whitbred / Volvo Ocean Races between them. Together they will be sure to add considerably to this already highly accomplished crew.
The benchmark that ICAP Leopard will be aiming for is the outright monohull west to east transatlantic record of six days 17 hours and 52 minutes, set by Mari Cha IV in 2003.
This means that ICAP Leopard will have to keep up a fearsome pace but navigator Hugh Agnew is confident that they have the weather for it.
Agnew commented: “Everything is looking good at the moment. There is a low pressure system due to develop over Nova Scotia that we are aiming to hook into at the weekend. This would give us a fast start to our record attempt. If all goes to plan we should then have some time in the bank to deal with any high pressure that could get in our way on the approach to the U.K. It looks like it might be a challenging run but we can’t wait to get started.”
ICAP Leopard will be carrying a GPS tracker during her record attempt, allowing spectators to follow her progress online at www.leopard3.com

Δελτίο Τύπου:
CATAMARANS CUP INTERNATIONAL 23-30/10/2010

Η εταιρεία, ISTION Yachting, δραστηριοποιείται από το 1992 στο χώρο του θαλάσσιου τουρισμού. Διαχειρίζεται σημαντικό αριθμό επαγγελματικών σκαφών αναψυχής προσελκύοντας κάθε χρόνο χιλιάδες επισκέπτες απ’ όλο τον κόσμο.
Σε συνεργασία με ναυτικούς ομίλους, σχολές ιστιοπλοΐας και ένα εκτεταμένο διεθνές δίκτυο εξειδικευμένων πρακτορείων, έχει προγραμματίσει να διοργανώσει έναν ιστιοπλοϊκό αγώνα με καταμαράν από 23-30 Οκτωβρίου 2010, το Catamarans Cup international.
Το γεγονός είναι πρωτοποριακό καθώς για πρώτη φορά διοργανώνεται ένας αγώνας αποκλειστικά για σκάφη αυτού του τύπου και ως εκ τούτου αναμένεται με μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον από τη ιστιοπλοϊκή κοινότητα. Κάθε σκάφος φιλοξενεί από 10 έως 12 άτομα και συνολικά αναμένεται να συμμετέχουν περί τους 250 ιστιοπλόους.
Το Catamarans Cup international θα ξεκινήσει από τον Άλιμο στις 23 Οκτωβρίου, και θα ακολουθήσει τη διαδρομή Αρχαία Επίδαυρος – Μέθανα – Ύδρα – Δοκός – Ερμιόνη – Πόρος για να καταλήξει στις 30 Οκτωβρίου στον Άλιμο.
Η επίσημη έναρξη του αγώνα θα δοθεί στην Αρχαία Επίδαυρο την 24η Οκτωβρίου και η λήξη θα λάβει χώρα στον Πόρο την 27 Οκτωβρίου.
Κάθε μέρα θα πραγματοποιείται ένα σκέλος του αγώνα και στο λιμάνι τερματισμού θα πραγματοποιείται τοπική γιορτή υπό την αιγίδα του Δήμου της περιοχής προς τιμή των συμμετεχόντων και απονομή των επάθλων στους νικητές. Κατά τη διάρκεια του αγώνα θα πραγματοποιούνται επίσης παράλληλες εκδηλώσεις (περιηγήσεις, διαγωνισμοί, κοινωνικές εκδηλώσεις, κα).
Επίσημοι υποστηρικτές του αγώνα είναι οι Δήμοι Επιδαύρου, Ερμιόνης, Υδραίων, Μεθάνων και Πόρου.
http://gre.catamaranscup.com/

SPARKLING ACTION IN THE BAY OF NAPLES.
Clear blue skies and crystal clear water typify the sailing grounds around Capri.

The first day of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week was blessed with sublime conditions. A warm breeze of eight to twelve knots from the south to southeast was a little more than forecast.
AEGIR, Benjamin Brian, dropping the spinnaker Photo by: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi
There was spectacular racing today for all classes on windward leeward courses in the strait between Capri and Punta Campanella. The majestic island of Capri acted as a perfect back drop but also created some tactical nuances requiring forward thinking and high precision sailing.
JETHOU, Sir Peter Ogden, racing in the Mini-Maxi class Photo by: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi
Provisional Standings after 3 Races (Place, Boat Name, Owner, Nation, R's-Points)
Mini Maxi
1. ALEGRE Andres Soriano GBR, 1-1-1-3.00
2. JETHOU Sir Peter Ogden GBR, 3-2-2-7.00

3. AEGIR Brian Benjamin GBR, 2-3-3-8.00
COMET
1. FRAL 2 Alessandro Nespega ITA, 1-2-1-4.00
2. LIBERTINE Marco Franco ITA, 2-4-2-8.00
3. ALLURE Massimo Guardigli ITA, 3-3-3-9.00
ALEGRE, Andy Soriano Photo by: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi
X-41
1. RAFFICA Pasquale Orofino ITA, 3-1-1-5.00
2. WB FIVE Gianclaudio Bassetti ITA, 1-2-3-6.00

3. MALAFEMMENA Giovanni Arturo di Lorenzo ITA, 2-3-2-7.00


Mylius
1. FRA DIAVOLO Vincenzo Addessi ITA, 1-2-1-4.00
2. PITHECUSA Vittorio Landolfi ITA, 3-1-3-7.00

3. TWIN SOUL 5, Luciano Gandini ITA, 4-3-2-9.00

The Swedish team Artemis, skippered by Paul Cayard and steered by Terry Hutchinson, won another race at the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena today to preserve an unbroken record of four wins and no losses.

Their nearest competition after five days of competition between ten international teams is the French/German All4One. They have three points but with six races sailed, they also have three losses. Five teams are equal third, each with two points.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Sardegna-Race day five saw plenty of close racing with Artemis and Luna Rossa battled for weather mark and finish with Artemis winning.
© Bob Grieser/ousideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy
Superb sailing conditions on the Golfo di Arzachena off the Sardinian island of La Maddalena saw five races completed but, with half of the opening round robin now completed, many of the top names of America’s Cup competition remain at the bottom of a topsy-turvy results table.
“It’s only four races so far. These races are very, very difficult. They are tight and we’re working hard on keeping with the ‘winning by a boat-length theory’ which puts a lot of internal pressure on the boat but so far its still moving along,” said Artemis helmsman Terry Hutchinson, after defeating fellow American Ed Baird who is skippering and steering the Italian Luna Rossa.
“There is still a lot that we can do and a lot that I can do. Our learning curve with the team is still fairly vertical. Looking at the big picture, our goal is to be here in 12 days time on Sunday.”
In their race against Luna Rossa, Artemis got off the start line bow-forward with more speed.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 5. BMW ORACLE Racing (USA) vs ALL4ONE (GER). © Franck Socha
“It was a really good job of boat handling on our boat,” Hutchinson said. “The guys in the middle of the boat and the bow did really nice choreographed work. I think Luna Rossa stalled a little bit in an effort to shut the door on us as they went for their speed build. We had really nice time and distance and when they stalled it made our slingshot pretty handy.”
Flight Three, Race One: Mascalzone Latino def Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 00:08– Mascalzone Latino earned a thrilling come-from-behind win in this match on the final run to the finish. Skipper Gavin Brady and his team did a masterful job of positioning their boat on the first gybe of the run and were able to roll over the top of Synergy. Karol Jablonski, the skipper on the Russian boat, was then too aggressive in attempting to protect his position and the Umpires penalised him for sailing above his proper course. Game over.
Flight Thirteen, Race One: Emirates Team New Zealand def Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 00:04– The Kiwis made a bold move out to the right hand side of the race course on the first beat while Synergy played the left. When they converged before the top mark, it was Emirates holding a narrow lead. With the boats nearly overlapped approaching the top mark, Kiwi skipper Dean Barker threw a hard luff at the trailing Synergy, gaining a few extra metres in the process.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS) vs Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL).© Franck Socha
Flight Seventeen, Race One: BMW Oracle Racing def All4One, 00:17 – Sébastien Col on All4One got the best of this start, bow out James Spithill steering Oracle. Spithill hung in and got an edge but Col took him all the way to the port layline and they rounded the top mark bow to stern with the French/German boat leading. One gybe on the run and Spithill rolled his opponent approaching the lee mark in a flurry of gybes and unanswered protest flags.
Flight Twentyone, Race One: Artemis def Luna Rossa, 00:35 – Terry Hutchinson pulled off a perfect start at speed but the Italian boat steered by Ed Baird went on the attack with 17 tacks up the short weather leg to round the top mark close astern, with a time difference of just five seconds. The next three legs were a minefield of shifts and holes but Artemis prevailed.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 5.Synergy Russian Sailing Team vs Mascalzone Latino Audi Team
© Paul Todd/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy
Flight Two, Race Two: All4One def Luna Rossa, 35 seconds – Sébastien Col driving All4One paid a heavy price to win the right hand side of the race course with two slow tacks near the starting line. But the wisdom of that sacrifice became clear two-thirds of the way up the race track when All4One, with starboard tack advantage, was just able to prevent Luna Rossa from crossing clear ahead.

The international jury will tonight hear a request for redress filed by All4One against the race committee. The French/German team is questioning the setup of the leeward mark in the race they lost to BMW Oracle Racing Team.

Provisional win-loss leader-board after Wednesday racing
1. Artemis, 4-0, 4 points
=2. All4One, 3-3, 3 points

=3. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, 3-1, 2 points *

=3. Emirates Team New Zealand, 2-1, 2 points

=3. Azzurra, 2-2, 2 points

=3. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 2-2, 2 points
=3. TEAMORIGIN, 2-3, 2 points
=8. BMW Oracle Racing Team, 1-3, 1 point
=8. Luna Rossa, 1-5, 1 point

=10. ALEPH Sailing Team, 2-2, -2 points *
* Penalties deducted by Jury/Umpires
http://www.louisvuittontrophy.com

May 26 - 29, 2010

Following a successful introduction in 2005, the Rolex Capri Sailing Week returns to the turquoise waters of Capri providing spirited competition for the start of the Mediterranean racing season.
Hosted by the Yacht Club Capri, the regatta provides a week of highly competitive racing for many classes.
The strikingly picturesque island provides a stunning backdrop to the on-the-water racing action in the Bay of Naples, off Capri.
AELLA, Maria Papadopoulou, GRE (from last year's event)
Photo by: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

Artemis was first up today against America's Cup winner BMW Oracle. The conditions were 15 knots from the west and a perfectly sunny day.

Terry Hutchinson got a great start shutting out James Spithill at the committee boat. I was reluctant to give the American's much rope to play with in the very shifty conditions.
Therefore we never got very far ahead...maximum lead was 2 boat lengths. The race was toe to toe all the way around until the last run when BMW Oracle gybed away while trailing and we let them go as we had the preferred side.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Sardegna--Race day four saw plenty of action in the steady 18 knots of wind. Luna Rossa defeated Emirates Team New Zealand.
© Bob Grieser/ousideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy
We won the race by 15 seconds. It was great to get our third win and nice to win a tight one.
In other action, the Russian team Synergy beat Prada, then Prada rebounded to beat Team New Zealand in a close battle. The French team Aleph caused a major incident in their race with Azzurra.
The French were disqualified as there is significant damage to both boats. Finally, the British Team Origin beat All4One by just 5 seconds in a very tight race.
SARDINIA, La Maddalena, 25th May 2010, Louis Vuitton Trophy, TEAMORIGIN vs ALL4ONE.© Ian Roman/TeamOrigin
Artemis heads the scoreboard with 3 wins from 3 starts.
For complete results and news go to www.louisvuittontrophy.com

The Italian boat won after ALEPH was disqualified following a collision 36 seconds before the gun as both boats reached down the line towards the pin.
Azzurra, leading, hardened up as ALEPH turned down to attempt a leeward hook. ALEPH struck the Italian boat’s starboard side about one metre from the transom. Both of the BMW Oracle boats suffered damage. USA 98 lost a portion of the bow USA 87’s stern was splintered.
In addition to her black flag disqualification ALEPH will lose a penalty point and may face further sanctions.
http://www.louisvuittontrophy.com/home/

Ο περσινός πρωταθλητής του World Match Racing Tour, Adam Minoprio, κέρδισε το δεύτερο γύρο της φετινής διοργάνωσης, Match Race Germany, και μείωσε τη βαθμολογική διαφορά του από τον πρώτο Mathieu Richards.

Overall Standings Match Race Germany:
1. Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing 25 Points
2. Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team 20 Points
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 15 Points
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 12 Points
5. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 10 Points
6. Peter Gilmour (AUS) Yanmar Racing 8 Points
7. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge 6 Points
8. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 4 Points.
9. Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo
10. Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing
11. Kathrin Kadelbach (GER) EWE Sailing Team
12. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team
2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings (After Event 2 of 10)
1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 40 Points
2. Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing 33 Points
3. Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team 20 Points
- Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 20 Points
5. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 16 Points
- Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 16 Points
7. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 15 Points
8. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 10 Points
- Sebastian Col (FRA) ALL 4 ONE 10 Points
www.wmrt.com

Three Italian boats featured today in some of the closest and most contentious racing in a very long day on the water at the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena.

When the last race finished in fading light just after 8:00 pm local time, Mascalzone Latino was the top scoring Italian boat with a 2-1 record after losing today to All4One in a race that saw the umpires impose a red flag penalty on the local boat for a collision just before the weather mark.

Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 3
Paul Todd/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy

However she may be assessed a further scoring penalty – redress hearings are scheduled for Monday night. The Italian boat Azzurra won her first race of the series, beating Luna Rossa, and now has a 1-2 record. Luna Rossa’s loss today puts her on 0-2.
Francesco Bruni, Azzurra’s young skipper reported: “It felt very exciting. I did struggle a little bit on the start line today, but we drove the boat fast and kept the game close. I’m very happy because it was a group win, not down to one single department on board, but a team effort. We did a very beautiful Sambuca [tack, gybe, set] and the match was open again.
The cleanest record of any of the ten international teams competing in matched America’s Cup boats is the Swedish team Artemis with two wins and no losses. Sardinia today offered up warm, sunny and windy conditions. The problem was not a lack of wind but a lack of consistent wind direction. Crews waited all day until the first of six match races started at 4:00 pm, local time.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 3. TeamOrigin vs BMW ORACLE Racing.
© Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy/
Flight Seven, Race One: TEAMORIGIN def BMW Oracle Racing, 01:03 – Ben Ainslie steering TEAMORIGIN herded Oracle’s James Spithill in to the pin corner of the start box with time running out before the start. The America’s Cup winner struggled to escape but earned a penalty in the process. They split with Ainslie starting at the gun on port and eking out an early lead in a 6-8 knot breeze.
At the first cross the British boat led by two boat lengths. Spithill kept it close for the first two legs but Ainslie stretched out to finish 160 metres in front.
Flight Seven, Race Two: Synergy Russian Sailing Team def All4One, 00:35 – Karol Jablonski sailed the Russian boat to victory in a race that saw multiple lead changes. Sebastien Col won the split start and the right. Jablonski initially prevailed on a long lead out to the port tack layline but the French/German boat led by 10 seconds at the top mark in shifty conditions. Synergy controlled into the bottom mark, forcing All4One to the unfavoured gate.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 3. Synergy Russian Sailing Team vs ALL4ONE
© Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy/
With both boats on starboard Synergy was ahead by 60 metres and never relinquished the lead. All4One was requesting redress on Monday night.
Flight Eight, Race One: Azzurra def Luna Rossa, 00:29 – Baird controlled the start until Bruni got clear and pushed the 2007 America’s Cup winning skipper into coffin corner. Baird gauged his escape perfectly and started on port at the pin with Bruni below him on port. Luna Rossa enjoyed a 35 to 45-metre lead and rounded the top mark with a seven second margin only to surrender the lead early after a tack-gybe-set that cost time and speed.
Flight Eight, Race Two: Artemis def ALEPH Sailing Team, 01:12 – After an initial dialup, Terry Hutchinson on the wheel of Artemis chose the left and took it. Bertrand Pace split away to the right. Artemis tacked and followed out to the right into an early four boat-length lead. Pace fought back but never really threatened the Swedish boat around the next four legs.
Flight Nine, Race One: All4One def Mascalzone Latino, 00:43 – Gavin Brady went for the left side and won it but All4One split away on port. Both boats level-paced on port but All4One enjoyed the starboard tack advantage in two close tacks approaching the mark. Mascalzone made two lee-bow tacks but there was contact the second time with the safety wand from Brady’s boat hooked into the bow of All4One.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 3. Luna Rossa vs Azzurra
© Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy/
Flight Nine, Race Two: Emirates Team New Zealand def TEAMORIGIN, 00:15 – Ben Ainslie seized the left and an early advantage in a split tack start that saw an 850 metre split before the British boat tacked to follow the Kiwis on port. Dean Barker bided his time to take over the lead approaching the weather mark. Ainslie closed on the run but the Kiwis led as they rounded opposite gates at the bottom mark.
Provisional win-loss leaderboard after Flight Nine (redress hearings are pending): =1. Artemis, 2-0, 2 point
=1. ALEPH Sailing Team, 2-1, 2 points
=1. All4One, 2-1, 2 points
=1. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, 2-1, 2 points
=5. Emirates Team New Zealand, 1-0, 1 point
=5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 1-0, 1 point
=5. Azzurra, 1-2, 1 point
=5. TEAMORIGIN, 1-3, 1 point
=9. BMW Oracle Racing Team, 0-2, 0 points
=9. Luna Rossa, 0-2, 0 points.
http://www.louisvuittontrophy.com

Mascalzone Latino triumph in La Maddalena Mascalzone Latino Audi Team beat Luna Rossa today by just five seconds in a heart-stopping charge for the finish line and chalked up a piece of Italian sailing history.

For the first time in seven years of racing in America’s Cup boats, the Latin Rascals defeated their rival Luna Rossa.
The race in light north-easterly winds on the Golfo di Arzachena off La Maddalena was the closest of the four sailed today. Light and fluky winds forced a three-hour delay to the start of competition and curtailed it at day’s end despite an attempt to start further racing.
Luna Rossa was making their debut in Louis Vuitton Trophy racing with 2007 America’s Cup winner Ed Baird as their new helmsman. Baird won the start against Gavin Brady steering Mascalzone Latino and controlled the first three legs.
Closing the weather mark for the second time Brady got out of phase in a series of short tacks and pulled up right astern of Luna Rossa to round just seven seconds behind. The leaders made a conventional bear-away gennaker set while Mascalzone went for a delayed gybe set that led to over 500 metres of separation and an opportunity to grab the lead.
When Baird eventually gybed to cover, Brady was sailing slightly deeper in better pressure. The tables turned and Brady worked out to a 70-metre lead only to see most of it evaporate when he gybed for the finish and the spinnaker sheet came unclipped.
“The end of the spinnaker was flying out loose and Alan Smith, our bowman, clipped onto a spare halyard and swung out over the water to capture it and clip it on again,” Brady said. “We knew it was going to be close but by then we had overstood and came flying into the mark with plenty of speed.”
In other races:
Flight Four, Race One: All4One def Azzurra, 00:20 – At the first cross it was All4One on starboard with a healthy two-boat lead. Sebastien Col steered the French/German alliance to a 28-second delta at the top mark and controlled the rest of the way.
Flight Four, Race Two: ALEPH Sailing Team def BMW Oracle Racing 00:28 – Bertrand Pacé steering ALEPH sailed a cool-headed tactical race to counter an aggressive attack by America’s Cup winner James Spithill. The French led by seven seconds at the top mark only to have Spithill execute a breathtakingly close inside overtaking move around the bottom mark. Pacé’s protest was green-flagged but Spithill had to tack away to clear his air. The windward mark delta was just six seconds before the French extended to win by six boat lengths.
Flight Five, Race Two: Artemis def TEAMORIGIN, 00:46 – All the drama in this race occurred 1:40 before the gun when the British boat hooked a crab pot or fish trap as they manoeuvered close to spectator boats. “It had two lines on it, one a pretty heavy anchorline,” said Peter Isler, navigator on TEAMORIGIN. “We went head to wind and Craig Satterthwaite jumped in and slashed both ropes with his knife and we were off again. We were early for the line but not that early!”
Inside the basin of the Porto Arsenale, 14-year-old Silvia Acheri won the first of three days raced in O’Pen Bic singlehanded dinghies to qualify finalists for the Louis Vuitton Junior Trophy. Silvia races for the Lega Navale Italiana in Cagliari, Southern Sardina. She won every one of her races.
Provisional win-loss leaderboard after Flight Five:
1. ALEPH Sailing Team, 2-0, 2 pts
=1. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, 2-0, 2 pts
=3. All4One, 1-0, 1 pt
=3. Artemis, 1-0, 1 pt
=5. Emirates Team New Zealand, 0-0, 0 pts
=5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 0-0, 0 pts
=7. BMW Oracle Racing Team, 0-1, 0 pts
=7. Luna Rossa, 0-1, 0 pts
=9. Azzurra, 0-2, 0 pts
=9. TEAMORIGIN, 0-2, 0 pts
www.louisvuittontrophy.com

Day 2: Round Robin Result
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 7-1
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 6-2
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 5-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 5-2
Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team 5-2
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 5-3
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 3-5
Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo 2-5
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge 2-5
Kathrin Kadelbach (GER) EWE Sailing Team 2-6
Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing 2-6
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team 1-6
www.wmrt.com

Having only just said goodbye to the 97 Finns at the European Championship, YC Labud in Split, Croatia is now beginning to welcome even more Finns for the 2010 Finn World Masters, which will open at the weekend.

The preliminary entry list includes 190 sailors from 23 nations. Though down on last year's record entry of 264, this is still up 60 boats on the last time the event was held in Split, in 2002.
Some of the Masters also took part in the Europeans last week as well to familiarise themselves with the wind and the local conditions, though we hope the Masters are more lucky with the weather than the Junior and Senior sailors were last week.
The favourite has to be the three times winner and defending champion Andre Budzien (GER) though 2006 winner Michael Maier (CZE) is also on the preliminary entry list and should provide a strong challenge.
While it is always hard to predict winners at the Masters, previous form would indicate that the likes of Jürgen Eiermann (GER) - runner up last year; Mihail Kopanov (BUL), runner up in 2008; and Allen Burrell (GBR) - third in 2005 and 2007 are also likely to be serious challengers.
Split also has a strong local Finn fleet, which has been putting in a lot of time on the water, so they will be keen to capitalise on their training and local knowledge.
Measurement and registration opens Friday is followed by the first races on Monday 24 May with eight races scheduled until Friday 28 May.

Match Race Germany May 19-24 Countdown to Event Now!
http://www.wmrt.com/live-blog.html

Skipper List - Stage 2 - Match Race Germany

• Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing
• Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
• Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
• Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team
• Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia
• Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
• Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar
• Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo
  
• Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing
  
• Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge
  
• Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team
  
• Kathrin Kadelback (GER) EWE Sailing Team

Great Britain and New Zealand remain on top in the latest release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings. Kiwi World Champion Adam Minoprio continues his lead in the Open Rankings whilst Lucy Macgregor (GBR) holds on to her to #1 position in the Women's.

Open Rankings The top two remain unchanged in the latest release of the Open ISAF World Match Race Rankings. Adam Minoprio (NZL) completes his seventh consecutive release in the world #1 spot, followed by fellow young gun Torvar Mirsky (AUS).
Triple Olympic gold medallist and TeamOrigin skipper Ben Ainslie (GBR) remains in third position having been runner-up at Match Race France in Marseilles.
Three French sailors hold top ten positions in the rankings, Mathieu Richard, Damien Iehl and Sebastien Col. Mathieu Richard (FRA) has moved up the leaderboard from seventh to fourth after his impressive victory on home waters in Marseilles and Damien Iehl won the Vll Open de Espana in Calpe in May.
For the second time Francesco Bruni (ITA) has made big gains to move up to ninth with a third place finish at Match Race France. Peter Gilmour (AUS) has also moved into the top ten by campaigning on the ISAF World Match Race Tour.
Women's Rankings British skipper Lucy Macgregor remains at the top of the Women's ISAF World Match Race Rankings. Second and third sports remain unchanged with Claire Leroy (FRA) staying in second and Katie Spithill in third.
Three French crews hold places in the top ten teams followed by USA and Australia with two teams each. Despite a lowly sixth at the fourth regatta of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyeres, Macgregor holds on to her first position with a solid performance at the Eurosaf European Match Racing Championship where she was runner-up. Claire Leroy won the sail-off for third in Hyeres but it was not enough to regain the top spot. Katie Spithill of Australia maintains her third spot with a win at the ISAF Grade 2 Olympic Garda Eurolymp regatta.
This next release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings will be on 9 June 2010.
Top ten, open:
1. Adam Minoprio, NZL
2. Torvar Mirsky, AUS
3. Ben Ainslie, GBR
4. Mathieu Richard, FRA
5. Damien Iehl, FRA
6. Ian Williams, GBR
7. Sebastien Col, FRA
8. Peter Gilmour, AUS
9. Francesco Bruni, ITA
10. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
Top ten, women:
1. Lucy Macgregor, GBR
2. Claire Leroy, FRA
3. Katie Spithill, AUS
4. Silke Hahlbrock, GER
5. Nicky Souter, AUS
6. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA
7. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA
8. Julie Bossard, FRA
9. Anna Kjellberg, SWE
10. Sally Barkow, USA
www.sailing.org

The first official RC 44 World Championship will take place on October 11th - 16th 2010, in Puerto Calero (Canary Islands). The recognition by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is an important milestone for the Class.

The RC 44 Class Association announces today that its first World Championship will take place on October 11th - 16th in the Canary Islands (ESP). Hosted by Puerto Calero, the event is officially endorsed by the International Sailing Federation.
“This is an important step for us”, comments the RC 44 Class Manager Bertrand Favre. “Over the past two years we have consistently organised races involving ten or more strict one-design RC 44’s representing ten countries. This number is due to increase over the coming months and the recognition by the International Sailing Federation comes as an acknowledgement of the hard work we have put into the development of this Class.”
Photo: Copyright Nico Martinez / RC 44 – Russell Coutts, founder of the RC 44 Class and Daniel Calero, organiser of the first RC 44 World Championship
The first official RC 44 World Championship will bring together twelve RC 44’s in the Canary Islands. “It will be the second time that we welcome the RC 44 fleet in Puerto Calero”, says event organiser Daniel Calero. “We are very proud to welcome the world’s best sailors to our venue. The fact that this event is the official World Championship is a great bonus for us as the event organisers, and a fantastic achievement for the Class.”
The RC 44 Championship Tour consists of six international regattas per year. A professional Race Committee manages the on-the-water operations, whilst direct umpiring is coordinated by world class yacht racing judges.
The fourth season of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2010 started in Dubai with the Al Maktoum Sailing Trophy and on Lake Traunsee with the RC 44 Austria Cup. The Tour’s next stopovers will be the RC 44 Copenhagen Cup (8th – 13th June) and the RC 44 Valencia Cup (July 27th – August 1st).
The RC 44 World Championship in Puerto Calero will be an integral part of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2010. Three world championship titles will be awarded during this event; the RC 44 fleet race, match race and overall title. The points attributed towards the overall Championship Tour will have the same value as in the other regattas.
After the RC 44 World Championship, the RC 44 fleet will be shipped across the Atlantic for the season’s last regatta, the RC 44 Miami Cup, on December 7th – 12th.
Twenty-two RC 44 one-designs have been built to date. One of them has just been shipped to the US in order to be showcased to the American sailing audience before the first ever RC 44 regatta on American land.
RC 44 Championship Tour 2010:

• February 22 – 27 Al Maktoum Sailing Trophy Dubai UAE
• 29 April - 4 May RC 44 Austria Cup Lake Traunsee Austria
• June 8 - 13 RC 44 Copenhagen Cup Copenhagen Denmark
  
• 27 July - 1 August RC 44 Valencia Cup Valencia Spain
  
• October 11-16 RC 44 World Championship Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, Canary Islands Spain
  
• December 7 - 12 RC 44 Miami Cup Miami USA

www.rc44.com

Summary:

• From Italy, the Audi Melges 32 European championship
• From the West Indies, BritAir won in St Barth + Virtual
• From France, in Brest during the Grand Prix Ecole Naval
• The Maxi Banque Populaire five record across the med
• In St Gilles Croix de vie, the Vendee to st Petersbourg
• From Croatia, the Finn Class European Championship
• From Portugal, the 2010 Audi MedCup in Cascais

Διαβάστε μια ενδιαφέρουσα συνέντευξη του Manolo Ruiz Elvira, σχεδιαστή της BMW Oracle, στον Pîerre Orphanidis και το Valencia Sailing.
http://www.valenciasailing.blogspot.com/

Η ομάδα της TEAMORIGIN ανακοίνωσε ότι ο Mike Sanderson δεν θα είναι πλέον μέλος της Βρετανικής ομάδας.
Η απόφαση ήταν του Sir Keith Mills, διευθυντή της ομάδας, και πάρθηκε σε μια προσπάθεια αναδιοργάνωσης και αναπροσαρμογής της ομάδας στον βασικό τους στόχο που είναι το επόμενο 34o America's Cup.
O Sanderson ήταν στέλεχος της ομάδας από την έναρξη της το 2007 και έχει τεράστια προσφορά στο στήσιμο της και στην προσπάθεια να πρωταγωνιστεί σε όλα τα μεγάλα ιστιοπλοϊκά γεγονότα παγκοσμίως.
Ο Sir Keith και η ομάδα TEAMORIGIN εύχονται στον Mike κάθε επιτυχία στις μελλοντικές του ενέργειες.
|πηγή: teamorigin.com, μετάφραση: Δ.Π.|

Επίσης διαβάσαμε στο διαδίκτυο και κάποιες ανεπιβεβαίωτες πληροφορίες που θέλουν τον Sanderson να απομακρύνεται από την ομάδα μετά τα απογοητευτικά αποτελέσματα στο LVT Auckland και στο MedCup στην Πορτογαλία και κυρίως γιατί υπήρχε τεράστια διαφορά προσωπικοτήτων με τους Ainslie (skipper) & Percy (tactician) ... ασυμφωνία χαρακτήρων το λένε ...
Άλλες πηγές αναφέρουν ότι από το Auckland ήταν σίγουρο ότι θα φύγει ο Moose από την TeamOrigin και θα έπαιρνε τη θέση του, Team Director, ο Grant Simmer, προερχόμενος από την ομάδα της Alinghi.
Τέλος φήμες πάλι θέλουν τον Moose να μην μένει και καιρό χωρίς δουλειά (αυτές τις δύσκολες μέρες που περνάμε) αλλά να προσλαμβάνεται ως skipper στην ομάδα Alinghi/Abu Dhabi VOR team. Λέτε; Θα δείξει...

Ten Louis Vuitton Trophy teams took to the waters off La Maddalena on Tuesday for the first official training session of the regatta.

After several days of very strong winds due to mistral conditions in the area, the winds moderated for most of the morning and into the early afternoon allowing three of the four scheduled scheduled sessions to take place. But by mid-afternoon, with winds approaching 20 knots again, the final slot was canceled to ensure the boats remain undamaged.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, WSTA La Maddalena, Sardinia, May-June 2010. Today all the teams went on the water for their first practice day in Archipel De La Maddalena where the racing will be held.© Paul Todd/OUTSIDEIMAGES.CO.NZ
One of the teams to get in two training sessions today was the French Aleph team. Damien Iehl, in the strategist/traveller position described his day: "We started in lighter winds of 10 to 12 knots. Then, for the second session it went up to 22 knots. But for us, it was perfect. We are still adjusting to sailing with each other so it was great to get through several manoeuvres and practice starts. Our afterguard has changed a little bit since Auckland, and there have been some other changes amongst the grinders and the trimmers, but the basis of our team is the same, so our level is better now than it was before the event in Auckland.”
BMW ORACLE Racing was among the teams to sail in the morning session. The America’s Cup defender is returning to the Louis Vuitton Trophy after missing the Auckland regatta due to its Cup commitments. With new navigator Ian Moore on board, the team had a good training session with Azzurra.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, WSTA La Maddalena, Sardinia, May-June 2010. BMW Oracle Racing (USA) tune their race boats up against MASCALZONE LATINO AUDI TEAM (ITA) before the start of the regatta in the waters of Archipel De La Maddalena.© Paul Todd/OUTSIDEIMAGES.CO.NZ
“The sessions are quite short - 75 minutes - so you don't want to waste time,” Moore explained. “You get the crew on board, trim on to make sure everything is ok, and then get straight into practice starts with your training partner.
“We try to do two practice starts and then on the third start we sail a very short race, windward-leeward, and try to repeat that cycle if there is time. We might have copped a penalty in one of the pre-starts, but that's also good in a way, to learn what you can and can't get away with while it doesn’t count against you!”
With Moore moving to BMW ORACLE Racing from TeamOrigin, the British team has called upon veteran navigator Peter Isler, who sailed with them in the Pacific Series in February 2009, to rejoin the team for the Louis Vuitton Trophy. And Isler says he’s very happy to be back. “These regattas are the best,” Isler said after getting off the water this afternoon.
Louis Vuitton Trophy, WSTA La Maddalena, Sardinia, May-June 2010. Today all the teams went on the water for their first practice day On board with Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)© Paul Todd/OUTSIDEIMAGES.CO.NZ
“I can't imagine anything better from a sailor's perspective. There's a lot of good racing, and I think we all have a lot of friends out there.
In these events you spend time not just with your team, but also with your competitors, when you’re transferring boats or on shore. So you feel like you’re at a regatta and not just isolated with a single team. And above all, the racing is at a very high level. So I think everyone looks forward to it.”
Training resumes on Wednesday, with the opening press conference on Friday and the first races of the Round Robin on Saturday.
http://www.louisvuittontrophy.com/home/

source: www.valenciasailing.com

The serious business for the 34th America's Cup has just started in Valencia with the first designer meeting in view of establishing a new design rule. The who's who of international yacht design gathered at the BMW Oracle base at 9:30am for a long discussion.

As the title of this post implies, this is the first part of today's report and for the moment it only consists of photos of the group leisurly chatting over coffee and croissants, waiting for Russell Coutts.
Once the CEO of the 34th America's Cup Defender came, the entire group moved to a conference room where Ian Burns made a brief introduction.
The attendance by Vrolijk is the first tangible sign of interest by Team Alinghi in the 34th America's Cup, since losing the trophy to Golden Gate Yacht Club in February 2010.
Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing
That's when the doors closed and I had to leave. The meeting will now go on until 4:30pm and I will be back to talk to Ian Burns and any other designer willing to talk.
The event is being covered by www.valenciasailing.com
34th America's Cup designers meeting. Valencia, 18 May 2010.
Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing


Giovanni Ceccarelli (left) chats with Jason Ker. Valencia, 18 May 2010.
Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing


34th America's Cup designers meeting. Valencia, 18 May 2010.
Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing


Juan Kouyoumdjian (left) chats with Patrick Shaughnessy, president of Farr Yacht Design. Valencia, 18 May 2010.
Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

At a recent meeting of the IRC Technical Committee, the subject of the rating cost of composite standing rigging was discussed.

The Committee noted that the technology of composite standing rigging has matured significantly in recent years to the extent that it is now becoming close to mainstream.
There is now evidence that composite standing rigging has a life expectancy at least that of steel rod rigging. In parallel, the cost of composite standing rigging has fallen to the extent that some brands are now available at costs only a little higher than the equivalent steel rod rigging.
Composite standing rigging is also now beginning to become available as a standard option from production boat builders.
Noting all of the above, the Committee has concluded that the rating cost of composite standing rigging will be reduced with effect from 1st January 2011 (1st June 2011 in IRC southern hemisphere countries).
This notice has been issued now to enable owners considering either new boats or modifications to their existing boats to plan accordingly. The exact effects on TCC are not yet available.
The Committee's intention however is that the effects should in future be broadly neutral in terms of speed versus rating. The effect of composite standing rigging will also continue to vary from boat to boat.

IRC Technical Committee

Download a PDF version of this press release from the IRC website:
http://www.ircrating.org/en/latest-tech-news/274-irc-2011-composite-rigging.html

ΔΕΛΤΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ

Ο αγώνας “Νικόλα Χατζηνικολάου” του Ναυταθλητικού Ομίλου Ειρήνης-Φιλίας με 64 συμμετοχές φέτος, αποτέλεσε πόλο έλξης των Ιστιοπλόων μιας και είναι ένας από τους πρώτους αγώνες της νέας περιόδου.
Η πρώτη εκκίνηση δόθηκε στις 11.00 το πρωί του Σαββάτου. Λόγω της μπουνάτσας, που επικρατούσε η επιτροπή επέλεξε την συντόμευση της διαδρομής κατά 2,5 μίλια παρακάμπτοντας την νησίδα Πλατειά.
Ο αέρας όμως νοτιοδυτικής διεύθυνσης, αποζημίωσε τους ιστιοπλόους δημιουργώντας ιδανικό ιστιοπλοϊκό περιβάλλον. Όσα σκάφη επέλεξαν γραμμή πορείας τα πλακάκια που ήταν και ο τερματισμός έπεσαν για μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα σε λειψαριά που επικράτησε στο μέσον του αγώνα.
Το πρώτο σκάφος που πήρε την κανονιά ήταν το ΑLBIREO στα IRC που προτίμησε να πάει από Λαγούσες παίρνοντας καθαρό αέρα, ενώ πρώτο από τα σκάφη ORC International τερμάτισε το ANNA MARIA ΙΙ αφού κολλημένο πάνω στη Αίγινα εκμεταλλεύτηκε τα θερμικά ρεύματα του αέρα και έκανε μια συνεχή χωρίς σταματημό κούρσα μέχρι τον τερματισμό του.
Τα σκάφη τερμάτισαν όλα εντός χρόνου εκτός από δυο, ακόμα και στα ORC CLUB, προς μεγάλη ευχαρίστηση όλων, ενώ τα αποτελέσματα είχαν ενδιαφέρον με τις διαφορές να παίζονται σε δευτερόλεπτα.
Η Αίγινα είναι αγαπημένος Ιστιοπλοϊκός προορισμός και έτσι όλοι ήξεραν τα σωστά στέκια και η βραδιά κύλισε με το κέντρο της πόλης να είναι κατακλυσμένο από 400 Ιστιοπλόους !!.
Η επιστροφή κράτησε περισσότερο αέρα από τον αναμενόμενο, ερχόταν από τον νοτιά και άλλαζε μέσα στο κανάλι, και έτσι σε πολύ λίγο χρόνο όλα τα σκάφη έφτασαν στον τερματισμό.
Ο Αγώνας στέφθηκε από επιτυχία στην διοργάνωσή του και διενεργήθηκαν 14 έλεγχοι ιδιαίτερα σε θέματα ασφάλειας, όσο στην Αίγινα όσο και στον Πειραιά.
Τα τελικά αποτελέσματα ανέδειξαν νικητές overall στις τρείς κατηγορίες:
Στην κατηγορία ORC International: 1o MARABU, 2o ERODIOS, 3o GORGO.
Στην κατηγορία IRC : 1o ENJOY, 2o COYOTE, 3o ALBIREO LLOYDS REGISTER
Στην κατηγορία ΟRC Club: 1o CANCUN, 2o RAMBLE FISH, 3o AEGEAS.
http://www.noef.gr/

The maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire V has set a new TransMed record from Marseille to Carthage, Tunisia taking 2 hours 47 minutes and 47 seconds off Groupama 3's previous record.

The new record time is now 14 hours 20 minutes and 34 seconds, subject to confirmation by the WSSRC.
The 40m trimaran sailed from Marseille at 03:56:56 GMT Saturday morning and finished at Carthage, Tunisa at 18:17:30 GMT for an average speed of 33.24 knots over the 477 mile course.
She hit a peak speed of 43.1 knots.

Με τις ευνοϊκότερες καιρικές συνθήκες ολοκληρώθηκε η Β’ Φάση του Πανελληνίου Πρωταθλήματος που διοργάνωσε η Ελληνική Κλάση Platu25 σε συνεργασία με τον ΠΟΙΑΘ.

Οι νότιοι άνεμοι που έφτασαν τα 13 μίλια βοήθησαν να ολοκληρωθούν 3 ιστιοδρομίες χωρίς να ταλαιπωρήσουν καθόλου την Επιτροπή Αγώνων και τους αθλητές.
Μετά τις χθεσινές ισοβαθμίες το αποτέλεσμα άρχισε σιγά σιγά να διαμορφώνεται όταν το πλήρωμα του Modus Vivendi-3Άλφα κέρδισε τις 2 πρώτες κούρσες της ημέρας.
Το σκάφος Ευρύαλος τερμάτισε πρώτο στην τελευταία κούρσας αυτής της Φάσης του Πανελληνίου.
Μετά από 6 ιστιοδρομίες και πετώντας την χειρότερη, νικητής αναδείχθηκε το σκάφος Modus Vivendi-3Άλφα με κυβερνήτη τον Γιώργο Βασιλά και πλήρωμα τους Κώστα Καραγεωργίου, Βαγγέλη Κάππα, Νίκο Μαθιουδάκη και Σωτήρη Κάρταλη.
Την δεύτερη θέση κατέκτησε το σκάφος Anaconda-Murphy & Nye με κυβερνήτη τον Ζώη Τζουροπάνο και πλήρωμα τους Σπύρο Βενετσιάνο, Θοδωρή Κωσταντακόπουλο, Ιάκωβο Λουδάρο και Κατερίνα Καϊτατζίδου.
Τέλος στην τρίτη θέση τερμάτισε το σκάφος Ευρύαλος με κυβερνήτη τον Στρατή Ανδρεάδη και πλήρωμα τους Δημήτρη Γεροντάρη, Στέλιο Σωτηρίου, Θοδωρή Πολυχρονίδη και Τάσο Μηλιώνη.
Τα πληρώματα παραβρέθηκαν στην απονομή επάθλων που έγινε στον μόλο του ΠΟΙΑΘ αμέσως μετά το τέλος των αγώνων και την οποία τίμησε με την παρουσία του ο Πρόεδρος του ΠΟΙΑΘ Κος Μαραγκουδάκης.
Οι εντυπώσεις από την Β’ αυτή Φάση ήταν πολύ θετικές από την Κλάση, την Οργανωτική Επιτροπή και τα πληρώματα και το ραντεβού ανανεώθηκε για τον Σεπτέμβριο με την Γ’ Φάση του Πανελληνίου.
Δείτε εδώ τα τελικά αποτελέσματα
photo credits: Νίκος Αλευρομύτης

Το Πανευρωπαϊκό Πρωτάθλημα Finn διεξήχθη από τις 8 ως τις 16 Μαΐου 2010 στο Σπλιτ, Κροατία.

Στην Ελληνική αποστολή συμμετείχαν οι Ιωάννης Μιτάκης, Παναγιώτης Κοτσοβός, Παναγιώτης Δαβουρλής, Αντώνης Τσότρας και Αναστάσιος Κατσιμίδης.
Την καλύτερη εμφάνιση από τους Έλληνες αθλητές πραγματοποίησε ο Γιάννης Μιτάκης του Ι.Ο.Πειραιώς, που κέρδισε την πρώτη θέση στο Ευρωπαϊκό Πρωτάθλημα Νέων και την 12η θέση στην γενική κατάταξη ανάμεσα από 97 συμμετοχές.
Αναλυτικά τα αποτελέσματα εδώ.
http://www.finnclass.org/

Emirates Team New Zealand and Puerto Calero win overall at the Portugal Trophy Cascais.
The current Audi MedCup champions proved they have lost nothing from their competitive edge as they both opened their respective 2010 season with resounding wins in the Portugal Trophy, Cascais.

After another day of muscular breezes which produced fantastic racing conditions off Sintra, just to the west of Cascais, Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) and Puerto Calero (ESP) had both set up unassailable regatta leads, clinching their respective trophies with a race to spare.
Through the five events of the 2010 Audi MedCup season, regatta trophies are a bonus, and this is Emirates Team New Zealand’s fifth successive regatta title in a row, but the dominant Kiwi crew will be even more content to leave Portugal with a comprehensive lead of 20 points over Franco-German Circuit newcomers AudiA1 powered by All4ONE.
AudiA1 powered by All4ONE may have finished with a sixth in the final race of the regatta, but the team which is headed by four times Olympic Jochen Schuemann (GER), finished consistently in the top half of the fleet through the second half of the regatta to prove they have the talent and the tools to be podium contenders. It is Schuemann’s best podium finish on the Circuit, bettering his third in Puerto Portals in 2008 with Platoon Powered by Team Germany.
The tough conditions produced a typically bruising final day which placed big demands on crew work and equipment. Emirates Team New Zealand proved, once again, a cut above the rest in the breeze but there were gennakers shredded again today and several teams not managing to convert on the final day, due to mechanical or sail failures, whether or not they were the product of crewing errors.
The British America’s Cup crew lost their gennaker sheet under the boat during the first race to finish 10th. For some of the time today Ben Ainslie (GBR) and the TeamOrigin (GBR) crew looked like an truly exceptional unit, leading again during the first race of the day, but they still have a speed deficit downwind which needs rectifying.
And Artemis (SWE) who were challenging Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE for second overall damaged their bowsprit when they tussled with TeamOrigin (GBR) on the start line of the second race today and lost the use of their gennaker for some of the time.
For the local team on Pedro Mendonca’s (POR) Bigamist 7 (POR) there was a boost to their morale when they won the first race of the day, heading Emirates Team New Zealand across the finish line to win, Race 9, the Cacscais based team’s ninth Audi MedCup win since getting Bigamist 7 last year.
So, too, the 2008 Audi MedCup TP52 champions Quantum Racing (USA) leave Portugal with their belief restored that they can be serious contenders this season, not least by winning the last race of the regatta. The absence on Thursday and Friday due to injury of skipper helm Terry Hutchinson (USA) tells its own story as Quantum Racing won Wednesday’s first and today’s last race of the regatta.
Without question Cascais on its first time on the AudiMed Cup Circuit has delivered as one of the best venues yet on the Audi MedCup Circuit offering a full programme of 10 races for the TP52 Series and nine races for the GP42 in winds which must have averaged over 15 knots.
GP42 Puerto Calero wins first battle in the war
Showing yet another display of near-flawless sailing in stronger breezes, Puerto Calero (ESP) scored a first and second on the final day to win this first battle in the five regattas long war that is the 2010 GP42 Series.
Their consistency, speed and error-free sailing in the challenging 20-25 knot conditions seem suited to this Canarias-based team.
Puerto Calero’s wide-body 2009 Botin & Carkeek-designed hull design was perfectly suited to the fresh breeze.
Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP) won the last race today and finished this regatta as runner-up.
The GP42 fleet was cut down by one in today’s racing by the unfortunate damage sustained by Peninsula Petroleum (GBR) when their masthead crane snapped within an hour prior to the start of the first race.
Nonetheless, the racing among the remaining four was still intense, with AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA) making great starts and progress upwind to always round the top marks in second, but then struggling a bit downwind in the fresh conditions, and the whole pack within seconds of each other at each turn. The next regatta on the Audi MedCup Circuit is the Marseille Trophy from June 15th to 20th.

Portugal Trophy, Cascais Overall
TP52 Series
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 6+11+1+1+4+2+1+1,5+2+2= 31,5 points
2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 9+7+4+6+1+5+5+4,5+4+6= 51,5
3. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+7+8+3+7+2+6+6+9= 57
4. Quantum Racing (USA), 1+5+8+2+10+9+8+10,5+5+1= 59,5
5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+9+2+4+2+1+7+13,5+10+7= 59,5
6. Matador (ARG), 7+2+5+9+8+12(DSQ)+6+3+3+5= 60
7. Synergy (RUS), 8+1+6+3+5+8+3+15+11+4= 64
8. Cristabella (GBR), 2+8+3+5+9+6+10+12+7+3= 65
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+3+9+10+6+3+9+16,5+8+8= 77,5
10. Bribón (ESP), 10+10+10+12(DNC)+7+4+4+7,5+9+9(RDG)= 82,5
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11+4+11+7+11+10+12(DNF)+9+1+12(DSQ)= 88

GP42 Series
1. Puerto Calero (ESP), 1+1+2+1+2+3+1+1+2= 14 points
2. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), 3+2+3+2+1+4+1+6(DSQ)+1= 24
3. Iberdrola (ESP), 2+5+1+3+3+1+5+2+3= 25
4. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 5+4+5+4+6(DNF)+2+4+3+4= 37
5. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), 4+3+4+5+4+5+3+6(DNS)+6(DNS)= 40