11th hour win for Coutts

America's Cup legend dispatches Vascotto and Campos on final day of Copa del Rey

The very first Copa del Rey for the TP52 class now has a winner in Lexus-Quantum Racing.

Close competition due to the similarity of the vessels is a key feature of the Breitling MedCup TP52 circuit, and this was demonstrated once again in today’s racing, the final of the Copa del Rey. On the race course there was a out and out war between Movistar, run by Vasco Vascotto and Pedro Campos and Lexus with Russell Coutts, Mark Reynolds and Peter Isler running the afterguard. The battle appeared to have been won by movistar at first, until a mistake during a manoeuvre allowed Lexus to move ahead in the overall results.

From the outset today the signs were clear that the final day of the Copa del Rey was going to provide some exceptional sport with four boats still in with a chance of winning: Movistar, Lexus-Quantum Racing, Atalanti with Paul Cayard and Dean Barker calling the shots and Caixa Galicia helmed by Bermudez de Castro.

Although the start was fairly calm, sailed in a light southerly, this wasn't the case for the rest of the race. Lexus-Quantum, with Russell Coutts helming, took the right side of the course, along with Caixa Galicia and Atalanti XV while the left side of the course was chosen by Vasco Vascotto on Movistar.

At the first weather mark rounding Orlanda Olympus was first followed by the Americans on Bambakou, Movistar, John Cook's Cristabella, Caixa Galicia, Bribón, Atalanti and Lexus. The last group to round the mark comprised Aifos, Siemens and Balearia.

At this stage victory seemed to be assured of going to Vascotto and Campos' team. However at the drop at the end of the leg there was a reversal of fortunes as they made a critical error causing them to lose many positions, dashing their hopes of winning the Copa del Rey.

With Orlanda Olympus leading in the race, the clash between the four contenders was reduced to a tacking duel between Russell Coutts on Lexus and Paul Cayard on Atalanti.

Orlanda stayed ahead throughout the race, with Bambakou finishing 24 seconds behind, and Caixa Galicia 30 seconds away. In fourth place Atalanti XV fought with all their might to put distance between themselves and Lexus, who finished in fourth place, while Movistar was out of contact further down the pack.

Victory in the Corinthian Class went to José Cusí's Bribón followed by Cristabella, John Coumantaros' Bambakou and the Spanish Royal Navy boat Aifos.

Overall in the Breitling MedCup overall results the lead is still in the hands of Pisco Sour- Movistar with Caixa Galicia, owned by Vicente Tirado, second and Lexus third.

Results: Copa del Rey-Agua Brava

1.Lexus Quantum Racing 5, 11, 11, 11,7, 7,7, 7(66)
2.Atalanti XV 4, 9, 8, 9,9, 10, 8, 8 (65)
3. MoviStar 10, 10, 5, 6, 8, 11, 10, 4 (64)
4. Caixa Galicia 11, 8, 10, 8, 4,9,4, 10 (64)
5. Orlanda-Olympus 3, 4, 7, 7, 10, 8, 9,11 (59)
6. Bribón 7, 3, 4, 5, 11, 5, 11, 5 (51)
7. Cristabella 8, 7, 9, 10, 1,2, 5,6, (48)
8. Bambakou 6, 6, 6, 4,6, 3, 2, 9 (42)
9.Siemens 9, 2, 2, 2, 2, 6, 3, 2 (28)
10. Aifos 2, 1, 3, 3, 5, 1, 6, 3 (24)
11.Balearia 1, 5, 1, 1, 3, 4, 1, 1 (17)