Audi Q8 wins practice race

TP52s flex their muscles prior to Audi MedCup's Portugal Trophy

After an interesting, exacting and even-sided practice race in perfect light wind conditions and warm sunshine on the Algarve's Atlantic waters off Portimao, Portugal the stage is set for the final regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit, the Portugal Trophy regatta.

Ashore, the local organisers and promoters Lagos Sports have raised the bar once more creating a superb temporary regatta village adjacent to the Marina Portimao, with a luxurious crew and VIP guests dining and bar area.

On the water today’s breezes just reached double figures, 10 knots at most, but it was evident that all crews were pushing hard at each of the practice starts.

Only after two general recalls and under the hollow threat of a black flag did the practice race get under way.

The windward-leeward contest, with a leg length of 1.6 miles, proved the course area off Portimao to be relatively even sided in this southwesterly breeze, that there are a number of boats who have emerged over the last two regattas who are capable of regularly winning races, and even this late in the season there are one or two boats who are just finding a late surge of form.

Confidence and morale took a jump aboard Riccardo Simoneschi’s Audi powered by Q8 (ITA) after they took the winning gun today. With Charlie McKee (USA) making the tactical calls reinforced by the thoughts of Thierry Peponnet (FRA), the Italian boat managed to overhaul Spain’s El Desafio on the last run, getting into a strand of better breeze, winning by three boatlengths.

With Francesco Bruni (ITA) back as tactician, Alberto Roemmers’ Matador (ARG) lead Audi Q8 down the final run but at the last minute bore left to miss the finish line. Sailing superstition it was not. They had been called out as the only boat to fall foul of the black flag penalty, but chose to carry on through the race to learn all they could about their speed and the winds on the race arena.

Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the crew of Audi MedCup Circuit leading Quantum Racing (USA) did not make life easy for themselves.

A modest start saw them second-to-last at the windward mark, but Morgan Larson (USA) and Mark Mendelblatt (USA) read the changes in the breeze on the final run well to ensure Hutchinson eased Quantum Racing across the finish line in sixth place.

The crew of the American boat have a lead of 41.2 points but navigator Ian Moore (GBR/IRL) would hear nothing of suggestions of conservative sailing here, and stressed that the team’s objective in Portugal is nothing short of winning their third regatta of the season:

“We are not really thinking about the overall, we are starting like we have every other regatta,” said Moore, “ We have won two this season and would like to make it a third. I think if we stick to our game plan - it’s been the same all season and we haven’t changed it - we are not going to go hunting the guys close to us in the overall we are just going to sail like we have always sailed and hope to try and win this regatta. The overall will take care of itself.”

José Cusí’s Bribón (ESP) won in Cartagena at the last regatta and lie second on the overall standings. They too showed their propensity to make gains in the light conditions again, rising from seventh to fourth today. Project manager and trimmer Ignati Triay (ESP) admitted that they, too, are aiming to sail their own regatta here, and not influence or be unduly influenced by any other boat: “ It is very risky getting involved in any kind of match race situation, because the rest of the fleet is just as important.

“ Look what happened to us in Cartagena, from trying to control Matador both of us let the lead slip well away from us. You just can’t afford to get distracted like that. I don’t think we will get involved in any match race kind of wars - we will be keeping an eye on the others of course, and as the weekend gets closer more so. But I think each team is going out to finish up with the best scores possible.”

Francesco Bruni (ITA), tactician of Matador (ARG) added: "We have a lot of expectations the last races have been going really well. So it is a little harder on me as I want to satisfy those expectations! But I am very happy as the boat is going well. We were over the line early but we wanted to try our speed against the top boats and try some new sails out. I don’t think we will put ourselves into match race mode but it is always good to have had some experience because it gives you another way of thinking and teaches you a lot of things that can help you in the fleet racing, I don’t think this early in the week we are even thinking about the score, that will come later this week.

Paul Cayard (USA), skipper-helm of El Desafio (ESP) "The wind wants to go right but there is more pressure on the left. It is tricky, and if it continues like that it’s going to be a long and difficult week. I’m expecting it to get a little stronger from the north-west as the week goes on and I remember that being a lot of fun here! Like all the regattas it is going to be hard-fought, nobody will win every race but we have to avoid the big disasters and it will all come down to the last race. We would like to go up further on the podium, obviously at the beginning of the year we weren’t up to par. We have come a long way, learnt a lot about the boat and got to sail it better. The last two regattas have been really good and hopefully we will build on that."

Brendan Darrer (GBR/IRL) boat captain Cristabella (GBR), third today: “It was nice to come back after missing the last event, we just went out and did our thing although this week we have a new tactician, Ray Davies, who arrives tonight and we are really looking forward to sailing with him. Today we did tactics by committee with Nat (Ives) leading it. We all sailed here last year we are looking forward to just having a pleasant week and enjoying ourselves.”

Racing for the Trophy of Portugal is scheduled to start Tuesday when three races are planned.

Portugal Trophy, Practice race.
1. Audi Q8, ITA
2.El Desafío, ESP, + 35 seconds
3. Cristabella, GBR, +1 min 02 sec
4. Bribón, ESP, + 1 min 20 sec
5. Artemis, SWE, + 1 min 22 sec
Complete results: http://2008.medcup.org/results/race.php?trophy=6&race=1

Audi MedCup 2008
Standings after 45 races including Alicante, Marseille, Cagliari, Portals and Cartagena
Place, Boat Name, Nationality, total
1. Quantum Racing USA 215
2. Bribón ESP256,2
3. Artemis SWE 271
4. Matador ARG 287
5. Platoon by Team Germany GER 310
6. Mutua Madrileña ESP325,4
7. El Desafío ESP352
8. CxG Corporación Caixa Galicia ESP404,6
9. Audi Q8 ITA 451
10. Mean Machine MON 455