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After an uncharacteristically disappointing regatta in Marseille last month, finishing eighth, Paul Cayard and the crew of Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Swedish flagged Artemis have bounced right back to head into the final day of the Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy – Barcelona with a slender lead of just one point over Emirates Team New Zealand, the current Audi MedCup Circuit champions.
In the GP42 Series a second place and a fourth was enough to keep Madrid –Caser Seguros (ESP) four points clear of Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP)which won the second race today. Iberdrola (ESP) won the first.
Two wins in today’s modest SE’ly breezes, added to a fifth in the middle race of three ensured that Artemis was the best scoring crew among the 11 TP52’s by some margin, underlining how consistency, boat speed and sharp sailing have replaced their Marseille malaise. Since a seventh in the first race of this regatta, Cayard and crew have never finished outside of the top five, a consistency which is only just about equalled by the Kiwi circuit leaders.
The stage is set for a fascinating Sunday showdown for the Camper regatta title here in Barcelona. Cayard came ashore relaxed and smiling – in contrast to the drained looking skipper he was in France - and was keen to emphasise that the greater satisfaction would come from knowing they can sustain this type of form, to maintain the highest competitive level, than running out regatta winners.
That would be the icing on the cake. Sharper starting and boatspeed at the two key differences he highlighted, but the Barcelona race tracks today proved difficult to read with split breezes either side of the course.
Having stayed relatively clear of trouble so far this regatta Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) might look to two small factors which contribute to their second place overall, rather than leading or sharing the lead. In the second race they gybe-set at the final windward mark rather than stay with their main rivals Quantum Racing (USA), which cost them one place. Then in the third race of the day they became involved pre-start with Matador (ARG) which meant they ended up with too little room and opportunity to break clear off the start line.
The Kiwis 5,3,5 for the day leaves them six points clear of Quantum Racing who started with a ninth after they were one of three boats recalled in the first race, and then they stayed strong with a pair of second places.
Three races are planned for the final day of racing on this first visit of the Audi MedCup Circuit to the Catalan capital city, but with a time limit of 1530hrs, after which no start sequence can begin, it is a lofty target, while the GP42’s are scheduled for two races to complete their regatta.
GP42 Series: closing the gap
Race 1 saw Iberdrola (ESP) take advantage of the early right shift by starting at the committee boat, tacking, taking an early lead and never looking back. The 9-12 knot conditions were ideally suited to this team of alumnists from the Desafio Espanol AC team, led by skipper Laureano Wizner (ESP). Series leader Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP) led by helmsman Paolo Cian (ITA) got buried into the remainder of the pack to score her worst score (4th) at this stage, while Peninsula Petroleum (GBR) slid into the runner-up slot for their best finish to date.
O Race 2, Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP) had to settle for yet another second, as her series arch-rival, Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) led by skipper Jose Maria Ponce (ESP), took advantage of a building 12-14 knot breeze to vault into an unchallenged lead. But Cian and team had to fight hard for this spot, and the fight got ugly: on a close cross on the second windward leg, Iberdrola couldn’t quite cross AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), prompting Wizner and team to cede the battle and roll into a penalty turn, costing them two places as the Italian team happily took the third place slot in their best finish yet in this stage.
Racing on board Artemis and Audi A1 powered by ALL4One were Audi sponsored world cup slalom skiers Felix Neureuther (GER) and Julien Lizeroux (FRA)
Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona
TP52 Series
Day 4
1. Artemis (SWE), 7+2+4+5+2+4+1+5+1= 31 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 1+4+8+1+3+2+5+3+5= 32
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 5+5+2+11+1+1+9+2+5= 38
4. Cristabella (GBR), 2+1+11+9+6+9+4+6+6= 54
5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 10+6+3+3+9+7+8+1+7= 54
6. Bribón (ESP), 3+3+7+7+5+11+10+7+4= 57
7. Synergy (RUS), 6+10+6+2+7+8+3+8+11= 61
8. Matador (ARG), 4+9+9+10+10+3+6+9+3= 63
9. Bigamist 7 (POR), 8+7+10+8+4+5+7+4+10= 63
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 9+11+1+6+11+10+2+10+8= 68
11. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 12(DNC)+8+5+4+8+6+11+11+9= 74
GP42 Series
Day 3
1. Madrid – Caser Seguros (ESP), 1+1+1+1+2+1+4+2= 13 points
2. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), 2+4+2+2+1+2+3+1= 17
3. Iberdrola (ESP), 3+2+3+3+3+4+1+4= 23
4. Península Petroleum (GBR), 5+5+4+5+4+3+2+5= 33
5. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 4+3+5+4+5+5+5+3= 34 |
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