Orlanda-Olympus and Lexus win each of today's races

Pisco Sour-Leche Pascual, with a second and a four today, remains leader at the general ranking of the Breitling MEDCUP TP52, followed by Lexus, here skippered by Dean Barker.

Under very light conditions two races were sailed today in Puerto Portals, Mallorca, Spain on the Regatta Breitling, the third event scoring for the Breitling MEDCUP TP52. The first one was won by Orlanda Olympus, skippered by Lorenzo Bressani, the second one was won by Lexus, skippered by Emirates Team New Zealand Dean Barker.

Atalanti, skippered by Paul Cayard, had a problem with her stay and couldn’t sail today’s races.

The leader of the first regatta remained leading the flotilla as from the fist windward buoy. Orlanda-Olympus, skippered by Tommaso Chieffi, with the help of tactician Lorenzo Bresani, opted for a left lee reach which allowed them to arrive first at the fist boy. Followed was a tight compact group made up of Caixa-Galicia owned by Vicente Tirado, Leche Pascual in third skippered by Italian Vascotto, followed by a hard driven Lexus skippered by Dean Barker. The local boat, Siemens followed not far behind this group continued by Aifos who was skippered by Ricardo Maldonado. In downwind the Italians managed to keep the lead but Caixa Galicia slipped into third place being overtaken by Leche Pascual the tactician on Caixa Galicia was America´s Cup John Kostecki. Lexus was in fourth place followed by Bambakou then Critabella. The last three were Aifos, Bribon and Siemens.


Photo of Siemens, the latest boat to join the Breitling Medcup, in Friday's races. Copyright: Jorge Andreu - Medcup

Orlanda-Olympus remained leaders through the slightly varying wind direction and so the first overall, Leche Pascual had to take a very close second place followed by Lexus and Caixa Galicia. John Coumantaros’ Bambakou came in fifth position with Aifos hanging off their stern and Cristabella tightly behind. Eigth was Bribon, followed by Siemens and in tenth place was Atalanti XV with Paul Cayard who had to retire from the race.

At 14:40 the second Race commenced with winds just reaching 10knots from the South. Caixa Galicia suffered a premature start which made the remain towards the back of the group fighting hard to regain turf.

Once again Orlanda-Olympus took the first place at the first buoy, but pressure was on by a closely followed Lexus, skippered by America’s Cup 2000 winner Dean Barker, then in third place was a pleasantly surprising Bambakou, then Bribon skippered by His Majesty King Juan Carlos. Leche Pascual were in fifth place due to a not so good windward reach followed by Cristabella, then Aifos, siemens and then Caixa Galicia.

In the third leg of the race things looked pretty much the same for the first three boats: Lexus, Orlanda and Bambakou but Leche Pascual managed to over take Bribon and take fifth position. Siemens, then Cristabella, aifos and Caixa.

The final of the race saw Lexus win followed by Orlanda-Olympus and in third place was Bribon. For general classifications see below.


Orlanda-Olympus. Photo copyright: Jorge Andreu - Medcup

Quotes:
Kevin Hall, Lexus navigator: “Our day today has been good, specially coming after a pretty rough day yesterday with a few problems and scenarios, but today we got to act together and sail along so we are very pleased with the results.”

Tomasso Chieffi, Orlanda Olympus tactician: “It’s been a very positive day and we are very happy with today’s results, a first and a second. Therefore we are really satisfied.”

Vicente Tirado, owner of Caixa Galicia: “We did really well in the first one, fighting for the victory until the end, although finally we finished fourth. In the second one we had a premature start that made us far behind the fleet. Although we got to improve our position it wasn’t enough. We are still half way through the championship, so we hope to recover positions in the near future.”