Caixa Galicia takes the lead

After the 'long' offshore race of the Transpac 52's first regatta at Punta Ala, Italy

Roberto Bermúdez’s crew notch up 14 points on the score list, which means they have an outright lead over their closest rivals, after a truly spectacular match race with the USA’s Bambakou.

After nearly 28 hours of racing and 160 nautical miles covered across the Gulf of Follonica and the area of the island of Elba with two rounds of the Island of Montecristo, the Transpac 52 fleet competing in the Breitling Medcup have finally docked in the Yacht Club marina of Punta Ala.

The regatta, that was marked by light and unstable wind conditions, saw numerous constant changes in positionning, which did not allow any of the vessels let down their guard.

Yesterday’s start from the waters of Punta Ala - Chilean vessel Pisco Sour, built in Castellon, Spain, skippered by Italian Vasco Vascotto and with Nacho Postigo as navigator, took the lead which was shortlived as the Bribon-Movistar (on which HM King Juan Carlos of Spain will step on board as skipper tomorrow) took over, followed by Lexus, skippered Russell Coutts with a crew that includes figures of the level of Mark Reynolds, and veteran America’s Cup yachtsman, Peter Isler, as well as Danish match racer Jes Gram-Hansen.

As night fell and the wind went light, the vessels were 80 miles into the regatta - at the halfway point of this long distance race. At this position the points are calculated as if this were a first race, before carrying on to do the second and last leg of the race.

WIth Roberto Bermudez de Castro as skipper and Dee Smith as tactician, Caixa Galicia crossed the finishing line with a comfortable lead, followed by the American Bambakou, with owner John Coumantaros at the helm, and Argentinian Tornado Olympian Santiago Lange as tactician, followed by Russell Coutts on Lexus, Pisco Sour and Orlanda-Olympus and Atlanti, a Greek boat, skippered by American Whitbread Round the World Race winner and America's Cup skipper Paul Cayard.

Caixa Galicia went on to beat the fleet on the second leg, giving the team a comfortable lead in the overall results. After rounding Montecristo Island on second leg, she and Bambakou sailed the last 30 miles in a thrilling match race. After Caixa Galicia, Bambakou crossed the finish line in second place. Atlanti was third, followed by Orlanda, Bribon, Pisco Sour and Lexus.

“It’s been a really tough as always here in Punta Ala , with a lot of wind shifts and changes," commented Dee Smith. "The guys did a really great job setting the sails up and down all the time. I don’t know how many times we passed Bambakoo and they passed us but we got lucky at a couple of places and finally won, that is what we wanted.”

John Coumantaros, on driver/owner on Bambakou added: “It’s been a long and very exciting race. I don’t know how many times we have changed places with Caixa Galicia in the last part. Being a Corinthian I can’t compete against the top proffesional people here but it’s very exiting to beat them, it’s thanks to the team we could beat them as I have a very good team and they have to compensate my weakness on the helm. I also have also an amateur helmsman taking the helm downwind, Craig Healy.”

Overall results

Pos	Boat	Skipper	R1	R2	R3	R4	Tot
1	Caixa Galicia	Roberto Bermúdez de Castro	5	7	7	7	26
2	Atalanti XV	Paul Cayard	6	5	1	6	17
3	Pisco Sour	Vasco Vascotto	7	3	4	5	16
4	Bambakou	Craig Healny	1	2	6	6	15
5	Bribón-MoviStar	Carl Buchan	2	6	3	3	14
6	Lexus	Russell Coutts	3	4	5	1	13