MedCup 2006

Calendar announced and new sponsor for final events

The Spanish ferry company Balearia has become the sponsor of the sixth and final event in the Breitling Medcup TP52 Circuit 2006.

The regatta, to be called the Balearia, Ibiza and Formentera Trophy will be held in Ibiza over 18-23 September, and reinforces the firm’s commitment to the island. At the official signing of the agreement were Balearia President, Adolfo Utor, President of the Mediterranean Fleet Association, Arturo Delgado, and President of the Club Nautico de Ibiza, Julián Vilás. This took place at the Club Nautico de Ibiza, host and co-organiser of this event.

The Breitling MedCup TP52, founded last year, has come to be considered as one of the most important circuits in the international sailing calendar attracting the very best sailors around.

The second season of the Breitling Medcup TP52 Circuit is due to kick off in Punta Ala, Italy, on 22-27 May. The fleet will then move on to Barcelona, where the second event will be held from 5-9 July. The third event will be the 12th Breitling Regatta, to be held in Puerto Portals, Mallorca on 19-23 July. One week later the prestigeous Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) will begin, this time in Palma de Mallorca from 29 July-6 August. Athens, Greece will be the fifth destination for the fleet over 19-27 August before the circuit will draws to a close in Ibiza on 18-23 September.

The second season of the Circuit is set to be even better than the last, with double the number of vessels competing, 20 boats already confirming their participation. As well as last year’s stars, Lexus Quantum (ESP), Caixa Galicia (ESP), Bribón (ESP), Orlanda (ITA), Atalanti (GRE), Bambakou (USA), Cristabella (UK), Aifos (ESP), Patches (IRL) and Sjambok (USA), the fleet will have brand new additions. Countries including Germany, Austria, Spain (one new boat), Holland (three new boats), UK , Ireland, Norway and the USA have all confirmed their presence for the 2006 season.

As well as the presence of last year’s big names such as Russell Coutts, Paul Cayard, Vasco Vascotto and Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, there will be new challengers in the TP52 races with King Harald of Norway, Dean Barker, and John Kostecki all competing. Among the new teams to look out for will be the Dutch team Sotto Vocce, Mean Machine and Pinta, and also Fram from Norway, the UK team Stay Calm, Austrian Team Astro and the USA’s Rush and Warpath, who will have almost all of the Emirates Team New Zealand sailing team on board. A very interesting contender indeed will be Spain’s Iñaki Castañer and his ONO team, following Castañer’s acquisition of the Breitling MedCup 2005 winning vessel Pisco Sour skippered this season by Vasco Vascotto.