Lining up for victory

'Local' team are looking good for first place in Sardinia Rolex Cup, but it is all on for second

Sunshine and brilliant blue skies accompanied the fleet competing today in the Sardinia Rolex Cup 2006, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, as they set out for the penultimate day of racing on the waters off Sardinia. The famous Sardinian Mistral failed to materialise, but a 7-10 knot northeast breeze allowed the Race Committee to set two windward leeward races, bringing to eight the number of races completed thus far in the series which also determines the winner of the ISAF Offshore Championship.

The first race of the day started in approximately 12 knots that gradually dropped to around eight by the time racing finished after nearly two hours. At the first leeward mark, with Pinta, Mintaka and Mascalzone Latino (which had often set the pace in each class over the past few days) were well back in their respective fleets as Santa Ana led the TP52 class, while Nerone and Vita Sangemini, two Farr 40s, rounded ahead of the Swan 45 fleet, led by Opus One and T..Too. The leaders remained unchanged as the boats crossed the finish line just in front of Porto Cervo . Placing second and third, respectively, were Orlanda and Bribon Movistar in the TP52 class; and T…Too and Vertigo Mutua Madrileña in the Swan 45 fleet. In the Farr 40 class, Nerone prevailed, with Fiamma and Mascalzone Latino rounding out the top three.

For Race Eight the Race Committee sent the fleet twice around the same windward-leeward course equalling close to eight nautical miles. Santa Ana again dominated the TP 52s from the start, while at the first leeward mark the Farr 40 Mascalzone Latino was ahead of the leader of the Swan 45 fleet, Swantastic. Santa Ana held her lead of the TP 52 class across the line, this time followed by Pinta and Bribon; Swantastic took victory among the Swans ahead of T…Too and Mintaka; and in the Farr 40s Mascalzone Latino fell to second behind Struntje Light while Joe Fly placed third.

With only one race left for the final day of the championship tomorrow, Team Sardegna comprising Stuart Robinson’s TP 52 Santa Ana, Stefano Polti’s Swan 45 Mintaka and Vincenzo Onorato’s Farr 40 Mascalzone Latino, is in an excellent position after building yesterday’s six point lead to a more comfortable 15 points. They stand first overall on 66 points. Germany (Michael Illbruck’s TP 52 Pinta, Wolfgang Stolz’ Swan 45 Opus One and Wolfgang Schaefer’s Farr 40 Struntje Light, is currently second overall with 81 points. Monaco, comprising Riccardo Simoneschi’s TP 52 Anonimo, Vittorio Codecasa’s Swan 45 Jeroboam Ca’nova and Alessandro Barnaba’s Farr 40 Joe Fly and Italy, Alessandra Pirera’s Orlanda, Lorenzo Bortolotti’s Swantastic and Alessandro Barnaba’s Fiamma, are separated by just one point, with, respectively, 88 and 89 points. Tomorrow’s final race will be a contest for second.

Filippo Petrucci, the official weather forecaster, predicts an 8-12 knot breeze from east-northeast with the ninth and final race scheduled for noon. The prizegiving will take place in Piazza Azzurra, overlooking Porto Cervo Marina at 6pm.

Position. Team – Points
1. Sardegna – 66
2. Germany – 81
3. Monaco – 88
4. Italy - 89
5. Spain - 91
6. USA - 120
7. Alpe Adria - 156

For full results - click here