Alberto Roemmers’ Matador lead the Region of Sardinia Trophy after winning two of today’s three races. Their two well won victories sandwich a fifth place which proved an equal measure of their tenacity and resolution, coming back from last place through the first half of the race
Avec deux victoires décrochées ce mercredi au large de Cagliari, les Argentins de Matador prennent un bel ascendant sur le Trophée Région de Sardaigne alors que plus de la moitié des régates ont été disputées. Les 42 Series n'en sont eux qu'au début, mais Madrid Caser Seguros règne en maître. L’autre fait du jour est la sérieuse collision survenue dans la manche 6 entre Bribón et Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE
Matador. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson
Matador’s consistency keeps them five points clear of Synergy going into tomorrow’s coastal race which carries a 1.5 points multiplier.
Audi MedCup Circuit champions Emirates Team New Zealand followed a similar pattern to their opening day, starting badly with a tenth, but fighting back to a second and third to lie third on the overall regatta standings.
If on Tuesday it had offered something of a one sided race track, Cagliari’s Bay of Angels may have had a devil’s influence at times today because the breeze pattern altered from race to race as the split winds on either side of the course offered big opportunities for gains and losses, especially on the downwind legs.
Matador won the first race which was contested in near perfect sea breeze conditions of nine to ten knots. Quantum Racing lead through the early stages of the race but chose to gybe set at the final windward mark while Vasco Vascotto and Francesco Bruni conspired to go right down the run to gain more than half a minute, stealing across the finish ahead of the 2008 Audi MedCup champions.
Synergy: race winner on Day 2 at Cagliari. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
In the second race it was Synergy’s tactician Rod Dawson (NZL) who read the first beat best. They flipped right early and were able to take command as the breeze lifted progressively, ensuring they lead all the way around ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand. Approaching half way up the first beat Matador fouled Quantum Racing, tacking too close to them, and had to take a penalty. That dropped them to round the windward mark as tail enders. They made little impression on the run, but their never say die attitude and inspired downwind sailing saw the world champions restore themselves to a useful fifth.
With dark clouds covering the race area and an oppressive, humid air replacing the early sunshine, the final race of the day was marred by a first beat collision between Audi A1 powered by All4ONE and Bribon. The Franco-German team lost control in the final, painful seconds as the tried to duck the Spanish boat and struck them hard one third of the way from the back of their port topsides. Both boats had to retire and Bribon will not be able to take any further part in the regatta.
The crash. Images copyright Audi MedCup.
Ironically the iconic Spanish crew suffered a similar sad fate in the last regatta of the MedCup in 2006 in Ibiza. The only other big collisions of recent years on the Circuit was at a messy top mark approach in Marseille in 2007, but both times these incidents were as the fleet converged, nearing the windward mark.
Matador lead the race from the first turning mark and at one stage were over 200 metres ahead of second placed TeamOrigin (GBR), while Emirates Team New Zealand took third.
GP42 Series: The leader leads
21 09 2010, Region of Sardinia Trophy © Ainhoa Sanchez/Audi MedCup Madrid-Caser
Seguros (ESP) showed today why they are the overall leaders in the 42 Series: good starts, excellent crew work, solid tactics, and an edge in boat speed that, when given the chance, gets them from behind to ahead before the end of the race.
Their scores of 1-2-1 today have given them a four point lead for the Region of Sardinia Trophy, and an extends to 11 points their overall series lead over the defending 2009 42 Series Champion, Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP).
And while the Canarias team today did well to win Race 2, they are but tied on points with a resurgent AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), who are also showing to be a possible threat on scores of 2-4-2. Owner/driver Roberto Monti (ITA) had to step off before Race 3 to attend to business commitments in Milan, and was replaced on the helm by project manager Cesare Bressan (ITA).
Even Peninsula Petroleum (GBR) showed moments of promise today in Races 1 & 2, and even closed down a big gap with the pack suffered after an OCS in Race 3.
Region of Sardinia Trophy
52 Series Day 2
1. Matador (ARG), 2+8+2+1+5+1= 19 points
2. Synergy (RUS), 6+5+3+4+1+5= 24
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 8+2+1+10+2+3= 26
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 7+4+4+8+4+2= 29
5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 5+1+5+6+3+11(DNF)= 31
6. Quantum Racing (USA), 9+3+7+2+6+4= 31
7. Bribón (ESP), 1+9+8+3+8+11(DNF)= 40
8. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+10+5+9+8= 41
9. Cristabella (GBR), 4+10+6+9+7+6= 42
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 10+7+9+7+10+7= 50
42 Series Day 1
1. Madrid – Caser Seguros (ESP), 1+2+1= 4 points
2. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), 4+1+3= 8
3. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 2+4+2= 8
4. Península Petroleum (GBR), 3+3+4= 10
Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Ian Walker (GBR), tactician Bribón (ESP):
“Nobody likes to see any boats damaged, and I think the Germans were just trying to duck us. We were on starboard and I think they must have stalled. They didn't get behind us and just came straight through us. So it was a big crash, definitely one of the biggest crashes I've been involved with. It was quite complicated, there were three or four boats involved and I think they thought we were going to tack and then we didn't tack and it was very late for them to duck so it was a difficult situation for them. I was actually quite lucky because I fell over just before the crash, and I nearly fell straight where they hit us so... “ Because they were trying to duck us they were probably doing ten or twelve knots cause they were trying to get behind, they were going faster and faster,”
Guillermo Parada (ARG), skipper Matador (ESP):
“Today it's been a good day. It’s pity that in the second race we had to take that penalty turn which put us in the last spot, and then we also tore the spinnaker, so things were getting kind of difficult, but we've kept on fighting and have managed to move up some places. So we still have good chance. In the first and third race the team has made a great job calling tactics and the navigator some good calls...Our goal here is a place on the podium. If we can fight for a second place in the Audi MedCup Circuit standings of course we'll do it, but as I say our goal is a podium here”
22 09 2010, Region of Sardinia Trophy © Guido Trombetta_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup
Jochen Schuemann (GER), skipper Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (GER/FRA):
“ There's not much to say, obviously we misjudged the situation. We were fighting for second and third place with Bribón and it seemed no to be very decided if they wanted to tack leeward of us or crossing, then with the motion, we were close and got too much helm and heel, and couldn't avoid it. So, stupid in the end...and obviously both boats lost two very good places and I think there's quite serious damage to Bribón. We lost the bowsprit, we have some work to do to fix that, and obviously lost a good place, either 2nd or 3rd would have been perfect for us to hang on to second. Now we are DNF and cashed in ten points, that's not good. We will sail again tomorrow, yes.
Gonzalo Araujo (ESP), skipper Bribón (ESP):
“ We were in the first beat of the third race, and it seems they had a problem to duck us, and they lost the rudder, these rudders are very thin, so they lost the control of the boat in the last moment, and after that we crashed. We can't sail any more but we still don't know the extent of the damage, and how much time we need to repair it, if we can go on with our plans for the worlds or not. We saw the boat coming down behind us, coming very tight, and then it was clear to us that they couldn't keep clear. In that moment Ian fell on his knees, and that prevented something worse...”
Dean Barker (NZL), skipper Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
“We just stuffed to ourselves in the first race, we were 4th at one stage and then we just sailed ourselves back into the fleet, which is very unlike how we normally sail but it bounced back with two good races after that”.
Jose Maria van der Ploeg (ESP), skipper Madrid - Caser Seguros (ESP):
“Today was a good day for us, we had good starts and good speed to keep us in the game and able to get ahead. But in the second race I made the wrong call on the spinnaker in the last run – we should have used the Code 1.5 and not the Code 2 that we used in the first race. This is a new sail and is very fast, but the wind got light and I got too caught up in the tactics at the top of the last beat to pay close attention to the wind for the next leg. But overall we feel good, the team is working very well.”
John Bassadone (GBR), helmsman Peninsula Petroleum (GBR):
“Our OCS in the last start was an unforced error, our team was just not together, and the rest of the group made no mistakes for us to have an opportunity to come back. The flat-water conditions are good for me, because when there are waves the other drivers who are more experienced have that edge that we just don’t have yet. So, the racing is really close and very competitive.”
Video of the crash between Audi A1 Team poweref by ALL4ONE and Bribon:
Video highlights of Audi MedCup Cagliari 2010 Day 2:
In French:
by Soazig Guého
La journée a été diabolique dans le golfe des Anges. Le plan d’eau s’est mué en véritable remue-méninges pour les tacticiens et les rebondissements ont été nombreux dans les 3 manches du jour. Le vent de sud-sud-est d’une douzaine de nœuds en moyenne a été perturbé par les nuages qui ont fleuri sur les reliefs bordant la baie : il fallait anticiper les coups tordus. Cette relative instabilité avait un avantage : elle permettait aussi aux bateaux de chasse de revenir dans le match . C’est ce qu'ont réussi les hommes de Matador qui enlèvent dans les dernières longueurs une manche 4 pourtant promise à Quantum.
Aujourd’hui, les équipiers de Guillermo Parada, dont Francesco Bruni à la tactique et Vasco Vascotto à la stratégie, ont été brillants. Ils remportent le premier parcours banane sur le fil, parviennent à remonter de la dernière à la 5e place dans la manche 5 et vont largement dominer le dernier round. Ce mercredi soir, alors que 6 des 11 régates au programme sont déjà dans le sillage des 52 Series, Matador mène le Trophée Région de Sardaigne, 5 points devant les excellents Russes de Synergy (vainqueurs de la manche 5 et ultra réguliers) et 7 points devant Emirates Team New Zealand dont l’équipage doit commencer à se frotter les mains pour son classement de la saison. Mais l’autre fait marquant de la journée est la collision survenue entre Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE et Bribón.
ETNZ retained their Audi MedCup series title in 2010. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
L’incident
Dans le premier louvoyage de la manche 6, Audi A1 powered by All4One est entré en collision avec Bribón. D’après l’arbitre embarqué Jean-Bertrand Mothes Massé, témoin de l’incident, les deux bateaux étaient en route de collision, Bribón en tribord. Pour l’éviter, l’équipage franco-allemand a commencé à abattre mais le bateau est passé sur sa barre et est devenu incontrôlable. Le choc était alors inévitable. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE a le bout dehors cassé et Bribón un gros trou et une déchirure de plusieurs mètres sur le flanc bâbord de la coque. Malheureusement, en raison des dégâts trop importants, les Espagnols sont contraints de se retirer de l’épreuve.
Madrid Caser Seguros maîtrise son sujet
Les 42 Series ont eu droit eux aussi à trois belles courses. Les Espagnols de Madrid Caser Seguros ont prouvé qu’ils étaient toujours les maîtres du jeu : bons départs, excellent travail d’équipe, tactique solide et un petit plus en vitesse. Aujourd’hui, ils enchaînent les scores de 1,2 et 1. Qui dit mieux ? Pas grand monde à part Islas Canarias Puerto Calero vainqueur de la manche 2... Demain jeudi, les 52 Series changent de programme avec un parcours côtier au menu tandis que les 42 Series enchaîneront 3 parcours banane. Rendez-vous dès 12h50 sur www.medcup.org pour suivre les régates en direct.
Classement général provisoire Trophée Région de Sardaigne 52 Series Jour 2
1. Matador (ARG), 2+8+2+1+5+1= 19 points
2. Synergy (RUS), 6+5+3+4+1+5= 24
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 8+2+1+10+2+3= 26
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 7+4+4+8+4+2= 29
5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 5+1+5+6+3+11(DNF)= 31
6. Quantum Racing (USA), 9+3+7+2+6+4= 31
7. Bribón (ESP), 1+9+8+3+8+11(DNF)= 40
[8. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+10+5+9+8= 41
9. Cristabella (GBR), 4+10+6+9+7+6= 42
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 10+7+9+7+10+7= 50
42 Series Jour 1
1. Madrid – Caser Seguros (ESP), 1+2+1= 4 points
2. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), 4+1+3= 8
3. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 2+4+2= 8
4. Península Petroleum (GBR), 3+3+4= 10
Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Ils ont dit :
Gonzalo Araujo (ESP), barreur et skipper de Bribón (ESP):
« Nous étions dans le premier bord de la dernière manche, ils ont eu du mal à abattre derrière nous, leur safran a décroché. Ces safrans sont très fins, ils ont perdu le contrôle du bateau au dernier moment, et juste après il y a eu le crash. Nous ne pouvons plus naviguer mais nous n’avons pas encore évalué l’étendue des dégâts et combien de temps il faudra pour réparer, si nous pourrons être présents au championnat du monde. Nous avons vu le bateau arriver derrière nous, très près et il état clair pour nous qu’ils ne pourraient pas s’écarter ».
Sébastien Col (FRA), tacticien d’Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) :
« Nous sommes très déçus de cette collision avec Bribón, car ils ne pourront plus courir sur cet événement ici, les dommages sur leur bateau étant trop importants. De notre côté nous allons pouvoir réparer le bout dehors qui a été endommagé et que nous allons remplacer. Nous serons donc sur la ligne de départ demain. Nous sommes aussi déçus car nous étions dans les leaders de cette 3e course avec Bribón et Matador. Cela fait malheureusement partie du jeu, les bateaux sont menés à la limite. Dans le cas d’aujourd’hui, nous étions en train d’abattre pour passer derrière Bribón qui était en tribord amure, et nous en bâbord amure. Notre safran a décroché lors de l’abattée, et le bateau est allé tout droit. Demain sera un autre jour, nous avons bien navigué jusque-là et j’espère que nous allons rebondir après ça. »
Audi MedCup
