11 TPs, three new

A look at the big boat line-up for this year's Audi MedCup

Compared to the 20-25 boats they enjoyed in their heyday, 11 TP52s racing the Audi MedCup in 2009 may indicate that the class has peaked, but in reality this is more due to the downturn in the global economic climate.

“To be honest after listening to the news from different boats in December, it is better than what I was expecting,” says Nacho Postigo, Technical Director of the Audi MedCup. “There was a time in December when it was really looking very bad. It is a little bit disappointing, but I think it is just a reflection of what is happen in the world in generally now.”

The greatest loss has been from the sponsored Spanish campaigns, all of which have pulled out (with the exception of the Spanish Cup campaign, Desafio). “The Spanish sponsors in many cases have cut their sponsorship, mainly for image reasons, like they are firing people or their business is contracting and they feel it is not good for their image that if they making such decisions for reasons of keeping a low budget, that they spend their money on sailing. It is still the old perception that sailing is a luxury thing…” continues Postigo. “Caixa [Galicia] is a big thing, because these guys have had a long history in being sponsored by this bank and they have a very good relationship and that was a big surprise.” They are one bank to pull out. Another is Cam.

Bucking the trend are the three new boats set to be on the start line this year. This includes a third brand new Artemis for Geneva-based Swedish owner Torbjorn Tornqvist and a second Matador for Argentinian Alberto Roemmers. New kids on the block, in team terms at least, are Emirates Team New Zealand, although individually they are far from newcomers to the circuit, Dean Barker having steered Bribon to second place in the 2008 Audi MedCup, while Ray Davies led a mostly ETNZ posse on board Peter de Ridder’s Mean Machine, until that campaign was canned.

As Chris Cameron’s photos attest the new Artemis and Emirates Team New Zealandboats have been out training in Auckland. After winning the Audi MedCup in 2007 with Judel-Vrolijk boat, Artemis have returned to them for their latest steed having gone with Reichel-Pugh in 2008.

The new Matador is also from J-V, built once again by King Marine in Valencia. Allegedly the new boat features pit winches inside the boat. Guillermo Parada will continue to helm the boat, but this year they have Italian Francesco Bruni as tactician.

The Emirates Team New Zealand boat is the only new Botin & Carkeek design this year, B&C having designed the 2008 Audi MedCup winner and Marcellino Botin being on the ETNZ design team. From the photos, the Kiwi boat would seem to have more volume in its aft sections than the latest J-V design. Their deck layout is also unique in having one of the pedestals behind the helm, presumably in an attempt to keep weight aft downwind. Like Mean Machine last year, the Kiwi boat also has the jammers in its pit area, inside the cabin.




While the two Russian boats are back – Valentin Zavadnikov/Sergey Pchugin’s Synergy and Sergei Shetsov’s Valars, they both upgraded their vessels last season, the former being the one time BMW Oracle Racing boat, a 2008 Reichel Pugh design, while Valars is the 2008 generation Judel-Vrolijk, Mean Machine. However at the end of last season, the Portugese Bigamist team, led by Afonso Domingos, acquired the former Platoon, another 2008 J-V boat. There are rumours about John Cook’s Cristabella, the sole British team left on the circuit, trading up to last year’s Matador, but this is dependent upon the sale of their existing boat.

Other teams returning are Riccardo Simoneschi’s Audi Sailing Team, the Spanish AC team, Desafio, with Paul Cayard at the helm, and the 2008 Audi MedCup winners, Quantum Racing. All have made modifications to their boats, all once again 2008 genereation J-V designs. Desafio for example has a new mast for this season. The crew line-up for Quantum was to have been semi-pro this year, with the owners Doug de Vos and Fred/Steve Howe participating more, however the latest news is that skipper Terry Hutchinson may again be sailing with a similar fully pro line-up to last year.

We understand that there are several other campaigns who have yet to commit to the 2009 MedCup, but are still attempting to get their affairs in order. These include José María Torcida’s Tau, while Spanish insurance company, Mutua Madrilena, who backed Vasco Vascotto’s campaign in 2008, have said they will only stump up for half a campaign budget this year. Vascotto is currently looking for additional backing, however over the winter his boat, again a 2008 generation J-V design, has been modified and so should be on the pace this season if he does find the full wonga.

Otherwise the circuit will remain much the same as last year with the exception of the GP42s joining the party – a very smart move for both classes. According to Nacho Postigo the union between the two is expected to be a long term one while for the GP42s it is certainly a lifeline, having not quite built their circuit up enough before the credit crunch struck. They will be racing one day less than the TP52s, although this is one more than their previous three day regatta format.

Despite the present time being a miserable one for car manufacturers Audi have
committed to backing the MedCup circuit this season as well as to 2010.

In terms of venues, the circuit is essentially the same as 2008, only that the plug has been pulled on the Breitling Regatta in Porto Portals, Majorca due to the Swiss watch manufacturer’s withdrawal from sailing sponsorship. So no Palma at all for the MedCup this year, although five boats, including the new Matador are set to compete at the Palmavela, the week after Easter.

More photos on page two...