Audi MedCup, domani le regate di prova
Audi MedCupGP 42Level ClassTP52Vela 19 Luglio 2010 Zerogradinord 0
Audi MedCup – Barcellona – Tutto pronto a Barcellona per la terza tappa del Circuito Audi MedCup 2010. Con undici TP52 e cinque GP42 pronti a prendere il via, l’evento catalano, grazie anche a uno splendido campo di regata, si preannuncia uno dei più emozionanti della stagione, con tante barche in lizza per la vittoria finale.
Conferma Quantum Racing?
Tanta attesa, in particolare, per rivedere all’opera Quantum Racing, vincitore della tappa di Marsiglia. Il team capitanato da Terry Hutchinson, al momento in terza posizione in classifica generale, se riuscirà a confermare le splendide cose fatte vedere in Francia, potrà dunque inserirsi di diritto nella lotta al titolo finale.
Ma i kiwi sono sempre avanti
Intanto, però, la testa della classifica overall rimane fermamente nelle mani di Emirates Team New Zealand, che nonostante le prestazioni deludenti di Marsiglia, può vantare un vantaggio di ben 18.5 punti sugli inseguitori, i franco-tedeschi di Audi A1 Powered by All4One.
Tanta Italia a Barcellona
Dietro al team di Jochen Schuemann si trova dunque Quantum Racing, davanti a Matador. Il team argentino, anche per la tappa catalana potrà contare sull’apporto di ben tre italiani: Francesco Bruni (tattico), Vasco Vascotto (stratega) e Bruno Zirilli (navigatore). Ma l’Italia è ovviamente ben rappresentata anche da Luna Rossa, che per la prima volta dall’inizio del Circuito schiererà un team completamente italiano, con Lorenzo Bressani confermato al timone e l’innesto alla tattica di Gabriele Benussi. Dopo l’assenza francese, torna invece in acqua Bigamist 7, la barca portoghese con l’italiano Andrea Casale a bordo.
Solo Spagna nei GP42
Tre team spagnoli saranno invece tra i favoriti per la vittoria della tappa catalana della GP42 Series. Se Iberdrola, reduce dalla vittoria di Marsiglia, è pronta a dimostrare che le prestazioni francesi non sono state un caso, Madrid-Caser Seguros (con Paolo Cian al timone) e i campioni in carica di Islas Canarias-Puerto Calero non staranno certo a guardare, promettendo battaglia fino all’ultimo bordo. Outsider per la vittoria di tappa è l’italiana Airisessential, in netta ripresa rispetto all’inizio della stagione. Peninsula Petroleum dovrà invece lottare prima di tutto contro la sfortuna, con due alberi rotti in due tappe consecutive.
Il programma
Domani, per la TP52 Series sarà il momento della practice race ufficiale, con la prima regata valida per la classifica in programma mercoledì 21, quando la GP42 Series affronterà la propria practice.
Audi MedCup
TP52 Series
1. Emirates Team New Zealand, pt. 62.5
2. Audi A1 Powered by All4One, pt. 81
3. Quantum Racing, pt. 82
4. Matador, pt. 87
5. Team Origin, pt. 90.5
…
GP42 Series
1. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero, pt. 31
2. Iberdrola, pt. 35
3. Madrid-Caser Seguros, pt. 36
4. Airisessential, pt. 52
5. Peninsula Petroleum, pt. 64
AUDI MEDCUP, WARNING UP IN BARCELONA
[Audi MedCup Press Release] From the Vieux Port to the Port Vell, from the Mistral to the Garbi, exactly one month after the 2010 Audi MedCup finished in Marseille, racing begins tomorrow off Barcelona where the atmosphere around the Audi MedCup Circuit village is a mix of great excitement and building anticipation.
The huge urban renewal of Port Vell for the 1992 Olympic Games, at the time one of the most ambitious in Europe, created one of the most iconic waterfront areas in the world. And in mid July it is one of the busiest and most cosmopolitan city spaces around, a natural focal point where visitors and locals congregate, enjoying the cooling sea-breeze respite from the city heat, taking advantage of the open spaces and loving the buzz.
Add all these ingredients together and the Catalan Capital’s Moll de la Fusta is a great place to bring the Audi MedCup Circuit for the first time. “The set up here is simply awesome, a great place to come.” Ed Reynolds, project director of Quantum Racing, volunteered this morning.
The way it looks now pre-regatta, Barcelona might set new standards for the world’s leading regatta circuit. The social programme is busy and includes an opening night party for this Camper Regatta – Conde de Codó Trophy – Barcelona to which nearly 700 people are invited.
The on-board Crew+1 spaces on each race, which allows VIP and media guests a space on board the race boats during competition, have never been in such demand.
The weather forecasts suggest that a maximum complement of races could be possible.
Racing starts for the TP52’s with tomorrow’s official practice race at 13.00, as the prelude to points scoring series racing which start Wednesday. The intention is to ensure that as many windward-leeward races as possible are completed. So when the breezes allow, three race days could be the norm and up to 12 races in total could be possible. Today’s final unofficial practice for the TP52’s saw 10 knots of SE’ly breeze.
Bribón navigator, Marcel van Triest, ascertains that “…we should be able to sail every day”
Official practice race for the GP42 Series is on Wednesday and racing for the five boat fleet begins Thursday. The TP52 Series is back at full strength with 11 boats competing, including the return of Pedro Mendonca’s Portuguese Bigamist 7. Their bronze medal winning tactician Hugo Rocha lives in Barcelona and is well acquainted with the local winds.
Emirates Team New Zealand, the defending 2009 Audi MedCup Champions, have a lead of 18.5 points after their fourth place overall in Marseille. But behind them there is just 9.5 points between second placed Audi A1 Powered by All4One and fifth placed Team Origin 1851, with Quantum Racing, the Marseille Trophy winners lying third and Matador fourth.
In the GP42 Series fleet it is Islas Canarias Puerto Calero of Jose María Ponce which leads overall but the lighter conditions expected here will be closer to the optimum for Laureano Wizner and the crew of Iberdrola, winners in Marseille.
Already thousands of visitors have enjoyed the Audi MedCup Public Village on the Moll de la Fusta and the visitor areas are open free to the public from midday until 2100hrs each day.
Audi MedCup TV is live each day from 1250hrs broadcasting all the action from the race courses supported by key interviews, comment and live commentary in English and Spanish.
Audi MedCup
TP52 Series
1. Emirates Team New Zealand, pt. 62.5
2. Audi A1 Powered by All4One, pt. 81
3. Quantum Racing, pt. 82
4. Matador, pt. 87
5. Team Origin, pt. 90.5
…
GP42 Series
1. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero, pt. 31
2. Iberdrola, pt. 35
3. Madrid-Caser Seguros, pt. 36
4. Airisessential, pt. 52
5. Peninsula Petroleum, pt. 64
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