Balearia moves ahead

In the TP 52 racing at the IX Trofeo S.M. La Reina Rolex Cup in Valencia

The entire 140 boat fleet lined-up today in the waters off Valencia for another challenging day of racing at the IX Trofeo S.M. La Reina Rolex Cup organised by the Real Club Nautico the Valencia. The three race courses saw a real fight among the seven classes competing, with a southwesterly wind of between 8-12 knots that built to 18 knots during the final race.

The Alpha course offered yet another day of exciting competition with the TP52s and the GP42s involved in three tight races. After an initial postponement due to lack of wind the Race Committee called the first start for the TP52s at 13.00. This strong and highly competitive fleet sailed three very close races and the provisional ranking finds the first four boats separated by 2 points and contest for overall winner wide as crews get ready for the final day of racing tomorrow.

Adolfo Utor's Baleria leads the provisional ranking after scoring 3,1,6 in today's races, followed by Mútua Madrileña skipped by Vasco Vascotto and Caixa Galicia tied in second place.

"For us today was similar to yesterday's racing." said Gonzalo Araujo, skipper of Balearia. "Very good conditions to race here, in Valencia. The fleet is very equal, with opportunities for all the boats in front. It seems clear that we'll have to wait until the very last race to know the name of the winner of the Trophy".

Mútua Madrileña skippered by Vasco Vascotto scored a poor seventh place in the second race of the day after failing to recover from a premature start. By contrast, today's racing went more smoothly for John Kostecki, calling tactics on Caixa Galicia.

The real show was played out within the GP42 division where an extraordinary battle developed between Quebramar and Movistar, temporarily transforming the race course into a match-race until disappointingly Movistar's suffered a damaged backstay during the second windward leg in today's race 2.

"We are really happy with the performance of the boat," commented Pedro Campos, Movistar's skipper and owner. "Apart from the breakage, all three races were really good for us. This is the first regatta for this brand new GP 42, and breakages are part of the game. We are particularly happy in upwind legs: we lead at the first mark in almost all the races. The worst part of the day was the break on the backstay, but the resumé of the first two days is really positive for us".

Movistar made a perfect start to the second race where a good tactical decision called by Fernando Echávarri, current World Champion in the Tornado class and ISAF/Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2005, took Movistar to the left side of the course. From there, she led the fleet around the first windward mark. Quebramar got the better of Movistar in the final leeward leg after closing in and engaging her in a close mach race over the last 3 miles of the course. Quebramar crossed the finish line a mere two second ahead of Movistar, and now leads the provisional ranking on 6 points, followed by Jan Santana's Zurich and Sea Wonder of Vittorio Urbinati with 17 and 19 points respectively.

If the weather is favorable, the two classes are scheduled to have two races tomorrow and expectations are high for another day of highly competitive and exiting action.

In the IMS 670 class Navalia, skippered by Jesus Pinto, is currently leading with two second places on handicap in today's races. Navalia is followed by José María Van der Ploeg's Turismo de Madrid who continues to take first place since yesterday's second race.

Luis Mas Borrel's Icaro leads the IMS 570 provisional ranking while Bohemia Express is at the top of the IMS Open. Aude Trabach's Sailing One is leading the Classic yacht division, which had their first race today.

The docks of the Royal Club Naùtico of Valencia have been set up to host H.R.H. the Queen Sofia who will enjoy tonight's owner dinner organized by the RCNV and Rolex.

Tomorrow's racing is to start at 12 noon.

IX Trofeo S.M. La Reina Rolex Cup Top 3 Provisional Standings Day 2

Place/Boat Name/Skipper/R1/R2/R3/R4/R5/TOTAL

TP52
1. BALEARIA, GONZALO ARAUJO, 3.00/2.00/3.00/1.00/6.00/15.00
2. MUTUA MADRILEÑA,VASCO VASCOTTO, 2.00/1.00/5.00/7.00/1.00/16.00
3. CAIXA GALICIA, ROBERTO BERMÚDEZ, 6.00/3.00/1.00/4.00/2.00/16.00

GP 42
1. QUEBRAMAR-CHRYSLER, LAUREANO WIZNER, 1.00/1.00/1.00/1.00/2.00/6.00
2. ZURICH, JORDI CALAFAT, 2.00/3.00/3.00/4.00/5.00/17.00
3. SEA WONDER, FLAVIO FAVINI, 6.00/4.00/5.00/3.00/1.00/19.00

IMS 670
1. NAVANTIA, JESÚS PINTOS, 1.00/2.00/2.00/2.00/7.00
2. TURISMO MADRID, JOSÉ Mª VAN DER PLOEG, 5.00/1.00/1.00/1.00/8.00
3. CARD & OIL, DANIEL CUEVAS, 2.00/4.00/6.00/3.00/15.00

IMS 570
1. ÍCARO, CARLOS RODRÍGUEZ, 1.00/1.00/2.00/7.00/11.00
2. POWER PLATE-HEMPEL, TONI RIVAS, 2.00/4.00/4.00/2.00/12.00
3. MOVISTAR, AXEL RODGER, 8.00/3.00/3.00/1.00/15.00

IMS OPEN
1. BOHEMIA EXPRESS, RICHARD VOTJA, 1.00/1.00/1.00/1.00/4.00
2. SIRIUS V, ENRIQUE FLETHES, 2.00/3.00/2.00/2.00/9.00
3. VERTIGO, JOHN BASSADONE, 3.00/4.00/3.00/3.00/13.00