Azur de Puig hangs in there

After wins for Cam and Tau Ceramica on the penultimate day of the Rolex IMS Offshore Championship

Spanish entries earned the top spots in both the Corinthian and Non-Corinthian divisions in today’s two windward/leeward races, the fourth and fifth races in Rolex IMS World Championship 2005.

In the Corinthian division, Spanish entry Puerto Calero-Hesperia, skippered by Almedo Morales, was first over the line in both of the day’s races and held the top spot in provisional corrected time for each. In the day’s first race, Non-Corinthian Cam, with Fernando Leon at the helm, was first on provisional corrected time.

The second race of the day saw Non-Corinthian Tau Ceramica, with skipper Theresa Zabell, take line and corrected time honors. Yesterday’s long race-winner Azur de Puig came in third on real and corrected time in each of today’s races in the Non-Corinthian division.

Shifting winds forced one change of course after the start of the first race at 11:00am. The 7-8 knot wind at the beginning had dropped down to five knots by the end of the race. The Race Committee moved a mile off shore looking for wind for the start of the second race and the second race started at 3:30 p.m.



The overall results, after five races (yesterday’s long race comprised two scores, one taken at the gate at Ciudadela, and one at the finish on completion of the offshore course) show Uruguayan entry Andalucia, owned by Santiago Mesa and with Ricordo Fabini at the helm, in first place in the Corinthian class and the Spanish Azur de Puig, owned by Marta Mas Borell and helmed by Jose Maria Torcida, still holding on to first in the Non-Corinthian division.

After today’s race, Teresa Zabell, helmsman of Tau Ceramica commented: “Today we had really good starts in both races and we rounded the top mark ahead. In the first race, the wind shifted during the second beat and Cam overtook us and won the race. In the second race, we maintained our lead and we were able to gain some time out.”

The final prize-giving will take place tomorrow evening, after one or two additional windward/leeward races, wind and weather permitting. The World Champion title will be awarded to the winners in the Corinthian and Non-Corinthian divisions, along with a Rolex time piece.

Provisional overall results after five races

Non-Corinthian (Pos., Yacht Name, Country, Owner, Points)

1. Azur de Puig, ESP, Marta Mas Borrell, 9.50 (2.00, 0.75, 0.75, 3.00, 3.00)
2. Movistar, ESP, Pedro Campos/Lorenzo Bressani, 32.75 (0.75, 3.00, 12.00, 11.00, 6.00)
3. Zurich, ESP, Santana Race Group, 35.00 (7.00, 2.00, 9.00, 6.00, 11.00)

Corinthian (Pos., Yacht Name, Country, Owner, Points)

1. Andalucia, ITA, Santiago Mesa, 26.75 (0.75, 6.00, 16.00, 2.00, 2.00)
2. Don Alvaro, ITA, Francesco Siculiana, 28.75 (8.00, 0.75, 5.00, 10.00, 5.00)
3. Sagola, ITA, Fausto Pierobon, 31.00 (2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 15.00, 7.00)