RC44 Championship Tour, il rientro di Mascalzone Latino Audi Team
Mascalzone LatinoMonotipiaRC44Vela 26 Luglio 2010 Zerogradinord 0
RC44 Championship Tour – Valencia – Dopo quasi due anni di assenza dal circuito delle imbarcazioni progettate dal tre volte vincitore dell’America’s Cup, Russell Coutts, il Mascalzone Latino Audi Team torna a regatare con il suo RC44 in occasione della RC44 Valencia Cup, quarto appuntamento per questa classe nel calendario 2010.
Organizzata dal Consorcio Valencia 2007 in collaborazione con il Real Club Nautico Valencia, la Federazione Spagnola di Vela, la Federazione Vela della Comunità Valenciana e in co-operazione con l’associazione di classe RC44, la Valencia Cup prenderà il via domani 27 luglio con la prima delle due giornate dedicate al match race.
Il segnale di partenza della prima prova è previsto domani alle ore 13.00.
Il team di Vincenzo Onorato, che sarà al timone nelle regate di flotta a partire da venerdì, è composto da Tommaso Chieffi, tattico, Matteo Savelli, timoniere di match race e trimmer nelle regate di flotta, Paul “Flipper” Westlake, randista, Andrea Ballico e Lorenzo De Felice, trimmer, Danilo Arvigo, grinder, Davide “Manolo” Scarpa, drizzista, Daniele Fiaschi, prodiere e Benedetta Danti, jolly.
Altissimo il livello degli undici avversari che si sfideranno nelle acque valenciane, in un campo di regata che sarà posato davanti alla celebre spiaggia della Malvarrosa, teatro delle ultime due edizioni dell’America’s Cup. La flotta degli RC44 vedrà infatti schierare nei rispettivi pozzetti alcuni dei nomi più quotati nel mondo del match racing, fra cui spiccano Russell Coutts, Paul Cayard, Terry Hutchinson, James Spithill, Cameron Appleton, Rod Davis e Markus Wieser.
RC44 Championship Tour
1. No Way Back, 3-3-2, pt. 8
2. BMW Oracle Racing, 9-1-1, pt. 11
3. Artemis, 2-7-3, pt. 12
4. Team Aqua, 1-9-4, pt. 14
5. Team Sea Dubai, 5-4-7, pt. 16
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RC44 CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR, RC44 SEASON RESUME TOMORROW OFF VALENCIA
[RC44 Championship Tour Press Release] Featuring 11 crews ready to battle in match and fleet race disciplines, the RC 44 2010 Season Championship resumes here tomorrow on the Mediterranean Sea.
Pieter Heerema of The Netherlands leads his No Way Back crew into action atop the season standings. Last year’s season champs have amassed the low score of 8 points on finishes of 3-3-2, but Heerema sees trouble on the horizon.
“We’ve been consistent, but this isn’t the moment to talk about the standings,” said Heerema, a veteran sailor of dinghies and keelboats. “After this regatta each team gets to discard its worst finish, so the standings will change.”
Three points in arrears is the Russell Coutts-led BMW Oracle Racing crew aboard Deal Breaker. Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis holds third place with 12 points, followed by Chris Bake’s Team Aqua with 14 points and Harm Mueller-Speer’s Team Sea Dubai in fifth place with 16 points.
“They’ve been very consistent,” said Team Aqua professional helmsman Cameron Appleton of New Zealand. “Pieter has put in a lot of time and effort and it’s paid off. They’re a strong unit.”
Other competitors in the event include Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref of Slovenia, BMW Oracle Racing’s Boat 17 led by skipper James Spithill, Guennadi Timtchenko’s Katusha of Russia, Daniel Calero’s Islas Canarias Puerto Calero and René Mangold’s AEZ RC44 Sailing Team of Austria.
The class is also pleased to welcome back Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino Audi Team. One of the original boats in the class, Mascalzone Latino will be racing its first event of the season.
“It’s an exciting boat and concept,” said Heerema. “For the high-tech level, it’s not an expensive boat.”
Typical of RC44 events, the Valencia Cup is structured in two parts. The first part on Tuesday and Wednesday features match racing where the pro sailors are on the helm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are scheduled fleet race days where the amateur owner-drivers are on the helm.
The conditions are promising for a lively regatta. Valencia’s hot summer, with temperatures averaging around 90 degrees, help a strong east/southeasterly sea breeze up to 15 knots develop by mid-afternoon, challenging both pro and amateur sailors alike.
“The class has a high but social level,” said Cameron Appleton, the match-race helmsman for Team Aqua. “The level of sailing is very high, but the umpires help leave it all on the water. There are no protests when we get ashore, and everyone can share a drink and talk about the day.”
“This class is the best thing going,” said Jeff Brock, a crew member aboard Team Aqua who has raced professionally for nearly 20 years. “Every time I step on these boats I think this is the way it’s supposed to be. They’re responsive to subtle changes, and as a crew you can throw them around the race track.”
RC44 Championship Tour
1. No Way Back, 3-3-2, pt. 8
2. BMW Oracle Racing, 9-1-1, pt. 11
3. Artemis, 2-7-3, pt. 12
4. Team Aqua, 1-9-4, pt. 14
5. Team Sea Dubai, 5-4-7, pt. 16
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