World Tour Regatta Announcement

MATCH RACE GERMANY

What — Match Race Germany, Stage 7 of the 2005-’06 World Match Racing Tour
Where — Langenargen, Germany
When — June 1-5, 2006
Host — Yacht Club Langenargen
Prize Purse — 20,000€, 1st place: 4,800€
Boat — Bavaria 35 Match
Racing Area — Bodensee (Lake Constance)
Who’s Entered — Five of the top eight skippers of the World Tour; reigning World Tour champion and Match Race Germany champion Peter Gilmour

Entry List

Ian AinslieAfterguard of Team Shosholoza
- Team Shosholoza – Afterguard for South Africa’s America’s Cup challenger
Jesper BankSkipper / Helmsman of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info - United Internet Team Germany – Placed 2nd at Match Race Germany ’05; skipper of Germany’s America’s Cup syndicate.
Tino Ellegast - Placed 8th at Match Race Germany ’04
Peter Gilmour PST – Aiming for third consecutive Match Race Germany championship
Björn Hansen – Placed 3rd at Monsoon Cup last December
Michael HastbaekStrategist of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info United Internet Team Germany – Strategist for America’s Cup challenger Team Germany
Staffan Lindberg Alandia Sailing Team – Placed 8th at Match Race Germany ’05
Sten Mohr BMW Oracle Racing – Placed 6th at Match Race Germany ’05
Eric Monnin – Ranked 31st on ISAF Open Match Race Rankings
Evgeniy Neugodnikov – Ranked 9th on ISAF Open Match Race Rankings
Mathieu Richard – Ranked 8th on ISAF Open Match Race Rankings
Ian Williams Williams Sail Racing – Placed 7th at Match Race Germany ’05

About Stage 7
Match Race Germany is one of three events that has been part of every World Tour schedule. This year it celebrates its 10th anniversary of its founding, but is the ninth running overall. The 1999 event had to be canceled when the combination of heavy rain and an unusually large quantity of snowmelt in the Alps led to major flooding along the Bodensee, or Lake Constance, which borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

At Stage 6
Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson won his first World Tour event in six starts with an impressive display of boatspeed. Berntsson and his Team Semcon crew were the fastest all week and won with a 24-5 record. World Tour leader Peter Gilmour placed third, missing a chance to win his 10th career World Tour event but extending his overall lead to 18 points. Gilmour is the reigning champion of Match Race Germany and a win would give him three consecutive titles along with his 10th career victory.

Brand new boats in Port America's Cup

Alinghi

As we mentioned on Friday, Alinghi's brand new boat SUI-91 made her maiden sail in Valencia last Wednesday. We captured the Swiss "rocket" on her way out of Port America's Cup for Monday's two-boat training session with SUI-75.

Alinghi's brand new SUI-91 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 29 May 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's brand new SUI-91 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 29 May 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's brand new SUI-91 being towed out of Port America's Cup. Valencia, 29 May 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team

To the best of our knowledge, ITA-90, the brand new boat of the Italian challenger Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team, has not sailed yet in Valencia. Still, we were able to get one shot of her in some maneuvers inside Port America's Cup.

ITA-90, the brand new boat of the Italian challenger Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team, inside Port America's Cup. Valencia, 29 May 2006. Photo by Leah Shalom / Valencia Sailing

Johnie Berntsson wins the ACI Adris Match Race Cup

The 34-year-old Swede was the embodiment of one of Berry’s signature songs, Johnny B. Goode, in winning the 20th anniversary ACI Adris Match Race Cup, Stage 6 of the 2005-’06 World Match Racing Tour.

Berntsson, from Stenungsunds Segelsallskap, Sweden (near Gothenburg), completed a wire-to-wire event victory with a 3-1 defeat of Frenchman Mathieu Richard in the final. Berntsson won the round robin with an 18-2 record and his semifinal round 3-2 for an overall record of 24-5.

Berntsson and his Team Semcon crew — Johan Bäckman, Johan Karlsson, Björn Lundgren and Martin Strömberg — won the ACI Match Race Cup Trophy, 20,000€ of the 50,000€ prize purse and joined a five-way tie for eighth on the World Tour leaderboard with 25 points.

“I feel great, so great,” said Berntsson. “We have won the Swedish championship and Scandinavian championship, but this is the highest-ranked win.” Listen to Johnie Berntsson commenting his victory by clicking here

Team Semcon holds a healthy lead over Saba Sailing Team in the final of the ACI Match Race Cup. Rovinj, 28 May 2006. Photo Copyright: World Tour / Guido Cantini

Richard, whose runner-up placing was his best career finish on the World Tour, was complimentary in defeat.

“I think Johnie and his team sailed very well, during the final of course but also during the whole event,” Richard said. “I was very impressed because they managed to keep a very high level all four days, and that’s very impressive. Congratulations to them, they were very good and it’s a very nice victory for them.”

Richard, 29, Nantes, France, and his Saba Sailing Team crew Greg Evrard, Olivier Herledant, Jean Philippe Saliou and Yannick Simon finished with an 18-10 record and won 10,000€.

Richard won the first match of the final. He trailed at the windward mark by about 8 seconds and then gained the lead near the bottom of the first run. Both crews jibed to starboard but Richard was to windward and simply rolled over Berntsson.

The French team led by about six feet at the leeward mark and extended to more than 20 seconds at the second windward mark. Berntsson closed up to within two boatlengths by the finish, sending a signal that they were far from done.

Johnie Berntsson (2) and Paolo Cian work downwind in Flight 4 of their semifinal match, won 3-2 by Berntsson. Rovinj, 28 May 2006. Photo Copyright: World Tour / Guido Cantini


Indeed. Berntsson and crew won the next three races going away, by no less than four boatlengths. Berntsson’s week wasn’t based on sound match-racing tactics, although he didn’t make many mistakes. His genius lay in boatspeed. His team had blistering speed all week and impressed the likes of Peter Gilmour, the all-time event champion who placed third in his quest for a 10th career World Tour victory.

“It was an exceptional week for them,” Gilmour said. “I think back and can’t recall when I’ve done as well in the round robin, semifinal and final. Well done to them.”

Berntsson got to the final after defeating Paolo Cian 3-2 in the semifinals. Berntsson held a 2-1 lead after yesterday’s opening matches, but Cian evened the series this morning to set up a sudden death match for the final. Berntsson, however, refused to get rattled.

“We were so satisfied coming to the semifinals so we were like OK, we try to do our best all the time,” Berntsson said. “Paolo did perfect starts. We had to try to be even with him and when we did that we managed to beat him. We knew that OK, we sail like it’s zero-zero all the time and we have to win the next match. I think all the guys [fought] hard to win the next match and not get stressed. And I think that’s a key.”

Richard got to the final after becoming the happiest man in Croatia. He took down Gilmour 3-1 in the semis in a come-from-behind win in the deciding race. Gilmour got Richard on the course side before the start gun in Flight 4, which gave him an early lead. But it was short-lived.

Richard quickly got back into the match halfway up the first leg. Then he got a penalty on Gilmour on the second leg, which turned the match in his favor. He went on to win the match, finishing a half length ahead of Gilmour, which was his highlight of the week.

“I’m very happy because yesterday we were very good at the beginning of the semis, we were leading 2-1, but we had to finish job and that’ not easy against such a good team,” Richard said. “We did it this morning. It was incredible because we had a very bad start, I was too early on the start; we were maybe three or four boatlengths behind. We managed to sail back and give him a penalty and get to the finals. That was the greatest thing of the week, to beat Peter Gilmour.”

Breitling MedCup - Warpath victorious in Punta Ala, Mutua Madrileña win Corinthian class

Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info and the Emirates Team New Zealand crew on the brand new Warpath got the better of Peter de Ridder’s Mutua Madrileña today to win the season’s first Breitling MedCup TP52 regatta, the Punta Ala Yacht Club Trophy.

With Mutua Madrileña finishing second, also crewed by sailors from Emirates Team New Zealand, Barker was delighted not just to win overall but knowing he returns to the day job next week in Valencia with ‘bragging rights’ over his friends and team-mates.

Warpath, owned by the San Diego father and son pairing Fred and Steve Howe who have made the step up from the Farr 40 class, got to within easy striking distance of their overall win when they won the first race of the day.


Mutua Madrileña, second overall of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 27 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

De Ridder’s Mutua Madrileña had their run of four consecutive wins halted when they came unstuck on the first race, posting an 11th place finish after they became snared on the wrong side of a windshift and less breeze on the left of the first beat. “It was really tricky, difficult day. It was pretty scary with the light winds forecast, knowing that we had to deal with Mutua Madrileña. We had to decide what was the right thing to do, whether to get involved with them at the first start or to sail our own race. We decided in the end to try and just get off the line clean, which we didn’t really, but we did manage to get into the race pretty nicely.” Explained Warpath’s Team New Zealand navigator Kevin HallNavigator of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info.

“We are just thrilled.” Barker said on the dockside, flanked by navigator Hall and tactician Terry HutchinsonAfterguard of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info. “I don’t think we could have sailed the first race better. It was very trying. We are pleased because every day we have been learning a little more about the boat and it still has a lot to go. I think that all the way through we have got quicker on every leg.”


The Siemens team, whose performance in the first regatta of the Breitling MedCup 2006 was disappointing. Punta Ala, Italy, 27 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

De Ridder’s second overall leaves him top Corinthian in the 19 boat fleet. “I am not really disappointed. The Corinthian is nice if it comes along, but the overall is what matters for me really. I am very happy with second at this first event in a class of this standard.”

Quotes
Nacho Postigo, technical director of Mutua Madrileña: "I am really impressed with Peter de Ridder and his remarkable ability to achieve great speed with this boat. Let us not forget that Peter is not a professional but he has been able to stay clearly ahead of some of professional sailing's biggest names such as Russel Coutts, Dean Barker or Gavin Brady".

Vasco Vascotto, sports director of Mutua Madrileña: "I restate what I said the other day. I think we have a first-class team that we fully support. It is a real pleasure to have a team with the quality and professionalism of Mutua Madrileña. We all know how tough the regattas of the Breitling MedCup have always been. Just a small mistake and you roll down to the bottom of the table".

Ray DaviesAfterguard of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, tactician aboard Mutua Madrileña: "It's been a fantastic event. The level of competition is these fleet races is of very high degree, truly impressive. I'm very happy with the final result; second overall in the first ever event we race is great. This has been our first fleet race with the new boat and we are completely satisfied with the mast, the hull and the sails".

Breitling MedCup - Mutua Madrileña win coastal race on the fourth day

Peter de Ridder and his mostly Kiwi crew on Mutua Madrileña sailed to another convincing win in today’s 31 miles coastal race at the Breitling MedCup in Punta Ala, Italy. Their fourth consecutive win from five starts now leaves Mutua Madrilena just two points behind Steve and Fred Howe’s Warpath, which is also sailed but Emirates Team New Zealand crew with Dean Barker steering.

With the light, but established north westerly sea breeze arriving just as it did on Thursday, the formula for Mutua Madrileña’s victory was the same. Starting smartly off the right hand, boat end of the start line they were first to tack away and once more they were never crossed or passed around the entire course.


Start of the coastal race on the fourth day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 26 May 2006. Photo copyright: Breitling MedCup

De Ridder paid tribute to the excellence of his crew, and to their weather team, who identified the favourable increase in wind pressure on this side of the course as the breeze fans out down the Gulf of Follonica. “We made some big gains with smart sailing by our guys. Our strategist Tom Dodson and Tactician Ray Davies did an excellent job. It was a bit confusing at the start but we sorted it out and knew we wanted to go to the right.”

Explained de Ridder, “ We started at the boat end and were ahead quickly. We were very proactive in our preparation and had good weather information from our navigator Wouter Verbak and forecasts from Chris Bedford. That meant we knew what we wanted to do. Once you are leading it is much easier and from then we were just trying to sail the windshifts. Judel Vrolijk did a good job designing this boat and it seems to be quick all round.”


Pinta is now third overall after a sixth place in the coastal race on the fourth day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 26 May 2006. Photo copyright: Breitling MedCup

De Ridder’s relationship with the New Zealanders goes back to 1997 when the Kiwis sailed with him in the Admiral’s Cup and then he had five Kiwis when they won the ILC 40 World Championship in Poland that same year. “I am an honorary member of Team New Zealand now and put a little money into the pot.”

“Peter does so much sailing that it makes a real difference. He sails his Mumm 30 and Farr 40 and does match racing in Holland and other boats and that just means he is sharp and gets right into the groove.” Commented Mutua Madrilena’s tactician Ray DaviesAfterguard of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, “It has taken a year together to get this project where it is now and it is very satisfying. For us it is such a breath of fresh air after (America’s) Cup sailing. You get boxed into the one job and focussing on the same things all the time. Here you are running about the boat and getting really involved in everything and you become much more aware of what is important in making the boat go fast. It is very good for your sailing.”


The TP52 fleet during the coastal race on the fourth day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 26 May 2006. Photo copyright: Breitling MedCup

Mean Machine/Mutua Madrileña was 1 minute and 56 seconds ahead after the first long beat to Cerboli island, rounding ahead of Jose Cusi’s Bribon. John Cook’s new J&V designed Cristabella passed the first turn in third, two minutes and 49 seconds behind Mean Machine and went on to take second.

The British team, with American Dee Smith as tactician, now lie fourth overall.
“People had let Mean Machine go right every time and won. Today the penny dropped. We got a good start and seemed to have plenty of speed. With four out of five Judel & Vrolijk boats in the top five, we chose the right designer. No wonder Rolf Vrolijk is smiling.”


The TP52 fleet during the coastal race on the fourth day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 26 May 2006. Photo copyright: Breitling MedCup

If Mean Machine/Mutua Madrileña were close to perfect today it was another day of simple consistency for Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info and the crew of Warpath. The Botin & Carkeek design rounded the first island in fifth and worked up to fifth at the second turning mark and were third by the Palmaiola. They lost a couple of boat lengths on the final downwind when their snap shackle holding the tack of the spinnakers opened during a spinnaker change, but their third place keeps them ahead of their Emirates Team New Zealand team-mates and sets up a fascinating final day tomorrow.

“It was tricky. We had to battle back after the start but we had some pretty good tactics and our speed was pretty good. I think we found a couple of modes which worked well for us.” Said Barker, “This whole circuit is good for us to work together as an afterguard. We learn more in the speed area, it teaches us more about sailing smart and keeps us fresh and interested. This is such a very competitive fleet. America’s Cup sailing is so much about waiting to go sailing. Here we do six regattas which will be really good for our sailing skills.”


The TP52 fleet during the coastal race on the fourth day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 26 May 2006. Photo copyright: Breitling MedCup


Impressive acrobatics by TAU Ceramica - Andalucia during the coastal race on the fourth day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 26 May 2006. Photo copyright: Breitling MedCup


Start of the coastal race on the fourth day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 26 May 2006


Mutua Madrileña crossing the finish line victorious in the coastal race on the fourth day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 26 May 2006

Breitling MedCup - Coastal race on the fourth day

Friday's program for the TP52 fleet of the Breitling MedCup consists of a coastal race inside the Follonica gulf. On the fourth day of the Yacht Club Punta Ala regatta the boats will have to round a number of buoys and islands in order to cover a distance of at least 30 miles and less than 40 miles.

Weather conditions are expected to be similar to yesterday's, starting with a light breeze of around 8 knots and then gradually building up to 18-knot northeasterlies. Flat seas are expected to give way to some waves in the afternoon.

With 14 points and four ahead of its closer competitor, Warpath could hold on to its leadership, while after yesterday's remarkable three wins, Mutua Madrileña will surely try to steal the top spot. Sharing between them 11 sailors from Emirates Team New Zealand, it's no wonder they have been dominating the first event of the Breitling MedCup 2006 season.

Note: We have added a permanent table on the left-hand column of the website with the current rankings of the Breitling MedCup, just under the America's Cup challenger ranking table. It is updated after the official results of each race are published. As some of our readers have already commented, we only publish photos of three Spanish boats, Mutua Madrileña, Siemens and TAU Ceramica - Andalucia. This is not due to any preference, on the contrary, but to the fact that they are the only ones that provide us with photos bigger than a large stamp.

Alinghi's brand new SUI-91 sailing in Valencia

Just a couple of days after her christening, SUI-91, the brand new boat of Alinghi was out for her first sail. The Swiss team has made public just one photo of their boat sailing off Valencia's coast for the very first time, taken on Wednesday.

We will try to provide more photos during the weekend.


Alinghi's brand new SUI-91 sailing for the first time. Valencia, 24 May 2006. Photo copyright: Ivo Rovira / Alinghi

A brilliant day for Swedes in Croatia

A pair of Swedish teams stand 1-2 atop the standings of the 20th annual ACI Adris Match Race Cup, Stage 6 of the 2005-’06 World Match Racing Tour. Johnie Berntsson and Björn Hansen both posted 7-2 records through 10 of the 11 flights scheduled in Round 1 (each has had a bye), but Berntsson beat Hansen to gain the top spot.

“We weren’t very well prepared for this event and we have two new guys in the crew,” said Berntsson. “But it worked out well. We had good speed and that was our biggest advantage.”

ACI Cup reigning champion Peter Gilmour of Australia and Italy’s Paolo Cian are tied for third with 6-3 records. They’re scheduled to face off tomorrow morning in the final flight of the round to determine the tiebreaker.

“The Scandinavians were very strong, congratulations to them,” said Cian. “We’re happy with six wins, even if I didn’t have good starts. The crew sailed well and we came back a few times.”


Johnie Berntsson (3) and Paolo Cian line up for their Flight 3 match, won by Cian. Rovinj, Croatia, 25 May 2006. Photo copyright: World Match Racing Tour

The ACI Cup got into full swing today after yesterday’s virtual rain out. Abundant sunshine and northwesterly winds topping out at 12 knots replaced the liquid nightmare. With temperatures in the high 60s, it simply was a gorgeous day for match-racing.

“Maybe it was a little cold compared to Swedish weather,” quipped Hansen, a glutton for punishment who raced in 46 degrees and rain last weekend.

The crews were itching for action. Chief umpire John Standley reported 53 requests for penalties and issued 25 penalties. “It’s a high rate of penalties, but there’s a high standard of sailing here,” he said. “The sailors don’t ask for the penalty if they don’t think they’ve been fouled.”


Paolo Cian and crew finished Day 2 with a 6-3 record and tied for third. Rovinj, Croatia, 25 May 2006. Photo copyright: World Match Racing Tour

The calls had Principal Race Officer Alen Kustić worried all day. “We were afraid of sinking,” he said. “Two or three of the calls were for hitting the race committee boat.”

The penalties influenced some matches, in particular the one between Berntsson and Hansen in Flight 6. The match was close up the first leg as Hansen, on port tack, approached the starboard-tack Berntsson.

Berntsson tacked to cover and Hansen luffed. Hansen thought Berntsson’s tack was too close, and Berntsson rolled over and opened a two- or three-boatlength lead. Berntsson was penalized, but Hansen felt he gained a significant advantage. “I thought it should’ve been a red flag penalty,” Hansen said, which would’ve required Berntsson to do the penalty immediately.

The match remained close until the finish when Berntsson, leading, performed his 270-degree penalty turn. He came out on port tack while Hansen approached on starboard. Hansen felt he was fouled again, but the umpires didn’t agree and Berntsson won the match.

Berntsson showed great speed in beating Gilmour in Flight 4. Gilmour was able to tag Berntsson with a penalty for being late in the start box, but Berntsson unloaded the penalty at the first mark. Gilmour approached on starboard and Berntsson was clear ahead on port. The clean option for Gilmour would’ve been to duck behind Berntsson and follow him into the mark. “But that’s not in our playbook,” said Gilmour. “So we jammed it in there and hit the mark.”

Berntsson gained the lead, temporarily. Gilmour got it back by the leeward mark, but lost it on the second upwind leg, Berntsson working the left side of the course to his advantage when Gilmour didn’t cover. Berntsson rounded the top mark with a two- to three-boatlength advantage, which he wouldn’t relinquish.

“It was very good to win,” said Berntsson. “The guys did a great job in that match, they handled the boat well. It gets the blood pumping and the team in rhythm.”

While the story of the day was the fine performances from the Swedes, the sub plot was “beat up on Gilmour” day. Hansen, too, beat the reigning event champ in another close match. “That was the highlight of the day,” said Hansen. “That was a tight match, never more than one boatlength. It’s tough to stay in front of the big guys. It was very satisfying.”

Gilmour also lost to local hero Dario Kliba. Kliba’s first regatta was the ACY Mini Cup in 1989 one week after the ACY Cup (as it was called back then), which he sailed in an Optimist as an 8-year-old boy. He received a certificate of participation, which his father reminded him of last week. Today, the 25-year-old Kliba took down Gilmour for the second time in two years. Last year he split his matches with Gilmour.

“We had a good pre-start,” said Kliba, who says his starting needs to improve to take the next step. “We kept our concentration. It was a good way to start the day to beat him.” “Dario’s been sailing these boats a lot. He beat us going away,” said Gilmour. “You spend enough time match-racing and eventually you work it out. You understand what needs to be done to win.”

2006 ACI Cup Provisional Standings
(After 10 of 22 scheduled flights, including byes)

1. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Team Semcon, 7-2
2. Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Hansen, 7-2
3. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Viano Mercedes Benz, 6-3
4. Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST, 6-3
5. Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team, 5-4
6. Ian Williams (GBR) Williams Sail Racing, 5-4
7. Dario Kliba (CRO) Croatia One, 5-5
8. Philippe Presti (FRA) Luna Rossa, 4-5
9. Evgeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Lord of the Sail, 3-6
10. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team, 2-7
11. Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) Extreme Team Morbihan, 0-9

Breitling MedCup - Mutua Madrileña wins all of day's three races

Monaco’s Peter de Ridder and his Team New Zealand crew on Mutua Madrileña produced an object lesson in clean starting and reading the first leg best to remain unbeaten over all three races today off Punta Ala, Italy.

The 19-boat fleet enjoyed what was certainly the best day’s racing yet for the class, as the sea breeze built through to day to allow three races to be completed. All the way through the fleet the placings were usually down to a matter of metres at any one time, and there were some spectacularly close finishes.


The Mutua Madrileña boat on the third day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 25 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

After a disappointing 15th in the coastal race on Wednesday, Mutua Madrileña lies second overall as Emirates Team New Zealand crewed boats monopolise the top two places on the podium. Fred and Steve Howe’s Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info helmed Warpath leads overall by four points after posting a seventh, a fourth and a second place for the day.

With the north westerly breeze building to 18-19 knots by afternoon, the Mutua Madrileña crew were off the start line smartly in each race and were mostly a boat length ahead within the first few minutes. They lead at every mark of every race.


The Mutua Madrileña boat on the third day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 25 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

“Clean starts were vital and we managed it every time. We were expecting a right hand shift and were always able to get there. The first time we had plenty of room to drive off the line and the second time someone could have shut the door on us but they didn’t and we got away again. Once we were in clear air I think we were always able to change gears well.” Said de Ridder, who is also campaigning a Farr 40 and a Mumm 30 this season. “I like the tricky, difficult situations. Busy mark rounding and difficult start lines. I like situations which are difficult.”

The Judel& Vrolijk designed Mutua Madrileña has had an optimum work up for this Breitling MedCup season having been built by in the Hakes Marine in New Zealand. De Ridder and his crew worked and sailed out of the Emirates Team New Zealand base for between two and three weeks, before shipping the boat to Palma, Mallorca.


The Mutua Madrileña boat on the third day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 25 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

“The boat is pretty much completed. The job list we have is very small. Before we go here we had sailed pretty much through all the breezes so we knew that we could get on here and go well. The things we have to do yet are only about the small details.”

De Ridder explained their opening race 15th: “We were not organised at the five minute gun and got ourselves into trouble hoisting the jib and had a bad start. Our speed was OK but it was a drag race and there was no way back into it.”

Over a day’s racing where a single error was often punished by a drop to the middle or back of the fleet, consistency was the watchword. Dean Barker was pleased with their day: “It is nice, we sailed pretty reasonably. We were consistent but the day really belonged to Mutua Madrilena. We were aiming for top fives and in this fleet that is tough. The fleet is very close and very even in speed and most boats seem to have their strong points and their weaknesses. We are not sure yet where we are strong because we are still learning the boat and that will take us some time. I think we are probably the least developed boat and our aim has just been to hang on to the fleet, but I think this boat has much more to give and we should see that as we move into the second and third regattas of this series.”


The Siemens boat on the third day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 25 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

“Mutua Madrilena sailed well today, especially getting off the start line. Within one minute they were clear off into the lead and once you are there the sky is pretty blue. It is a wonderful sport when you are out in front. You’d have to say this is some of the best racing around. A metre here and a metre is making all the difference.” Commented three times America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts who skippered Jaime Yllera and George Andreadis’ Lexus to a tenth, a third and a twelfth to lie eighth overall.

Michael Illbruck’s Pinta, with John Kostecki calling the shots and Steve Hayles navigating, staged the day’s most worthwhile recovery in the second race. They rounded last at the first windward mark, but battled back to count a ninth. Added to a second and fourth their Judel & Vrolijk design lies third overall.


The TAU Ceramica - Andalucia boat on the third day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 25 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

Breitling MedCup - Warpath victorious on first day

Steve and Fred Howe’s brand new American boat Warpath drew first blood in their first ever race as the Breitling MedCup TP52 circuit got under way with a 33 mile coastal inshore race from Punta Ala.

With a telling display of boat handling from Warpath’s core crew of Emirates Team New Zealand America’s Cup sailors, with Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info steering, the new Botin & Carkeek design powered away from Vincente de Tirado's Caixa Galicia on the penultimate leg, to win by one minute and 40 seconds.

The Spanish Caixa Galica, last year’s runner-up overall, established a slender lead on the first, short windward leg but last year’s Farr design could not shake off Warpath all the way around the course and finally fell prey when as the leading pair eased sheets and raised their big overlapping masthead genoas.


The Mutua Madrileña boat on the second day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 24 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

Warpath’s America’s Cup core team only set eyes on the boat for the first time on Monday morning, and had sailed in earnest for less than two hours prior to the start gun, but the boat showed no lack of speed around the mix of all points of sail.

“We went out looking for a top three result but to get a first first time out is pretty much unbelievable in this fleet. We were pleased with the way the boat performed across the wind range.” Explained Barker, “We had a good start and were right in amongst it, but it was on the Code Zero reach from the last island that the boat was just on fire, it was pretty impressive how quick we were. I think that is because the boat is good and the sails are good and this is certainly a nice position to be in after the first day. I certainly can’t complain. If someone had said to me this morning before leaving the dock that we would win, I would have said there was a high probability we wouldn’t. We are still trying to learn the boat and its modes, so we are delighted.”


The Mutua Madrileña boat on the second day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 24 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

From being a matter of boat lengths apart as they negotiated the light breeze through the lee of the small island of Palmaiola, Warpath had gained more than a minute and a half on the final 7.5 mile 50minutes close reach to the last turning mark, and then held their margin on the run home to finish off the Punta Ala sea-wall.

After losing the opening day’s racing due to the lack of wind, the 19 boat fleet were treated to 6-11 knots of breeze, clearing skies and finally sunshine breaking through to pick out the Island of Elba which provided a stunning backdrop to the action.


Start of the coastal race on the second day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 24 May 2006

Not unexpectedly for the first contest of the Breitling MedCup season it was crew errors and gear problems which provided the opportunities for gains rather than tactical sailing around a course which presented limited opportunities due to the high proportion of fetching and reaching.

The Global Championship winning boat Siemens with Britain’s double Olympic silver medallist Ian WalkerAfterguard of +39 Challenge


Click for more info skippering along with Tom Stark’s Rush were recalled for being over the start line. Both waited the best part of two minutes before they responded to the official confirmation. Siemens fought back to 13th place.

John Cook steered his Botin & Carkeek designed Cristabella to fourth place on their maiden race outing also finishing top Corinthian skipper. With American Dee Smith as tactician among a mainly British crew, Cristabella duelled for much of the race with Santa Ana/Stay Calm, steered by Corinthian compatriot, Stuart Robinson.

“I am very pleased. I put my faith in Brendan (Darrer, boat captain) to come up with a fast boat and a good crew and we proved to have that today, and I am delighted to have Dee Smith with us for the first time as world class tactician. Having raced for seven or eight years in Med then I don’t tend to think in terms of Corinthian I just like to do well, and we did today.” Remarked Cook.

Losing Michael Illbruck’s Pinta and Riccardo Simoneschi’s Anonimo on the downwind Santa Ana/Cristabella suffered a failure of their masthead sheave box and had to start the downwind leg with a smaller, fractional spinnaker. With the halyard having cut into the mast’s carbon laminate, the team have had to lift the rig out the boat and face a race against time to have it repaired and re-stepped ready for tomorrow’s race.

Rain dampens racing on opening day of the ACI Match Race Cup

Five skippers are tied at 1-0 after one flight of racing was completed on Day 1 of the 20th anniversary ACI Adris Match Race Cup, Stage 6 of the 2005-’06 World Match Racing Tour.

Paolo Cian, Björn Hansen, Ian Williams Johnie Berntsson and Staffan Lindberg won their matches against, respectively, Dario Kliba, Mathieu Richard, Evgeniy Neugodnikov, Philippe Presti and Pierre-Antoine Morvan.

The event’s 11th crew, led by defending ACI Cup champion Peter Gilmour, had a bye in the round.

Racing was postponed for the majority of the day due to heavy rains that sapped Rovinj of all wind. The rain let up in the middle of the day and the race committee sent the crews to the racecourse just off Rovinj Harbor, but the rain quickly returned and the postponement was reissued.

The teams finally returned to the water around 4:30 pm for the lone flight, which was sailed in a shifty 5-knot easterly wind.

“We managed to stay relaxed for the better part of the day,” said Williams of Great Britain, whose looking to a good finish to score points and move into the World Tour’s Championship 8. “It was tough to get up for one race, but a win’s a win and we’ll take it.”

Racing is scheduled to resume on Thursday at 10:00 am.

List of participating skippers in the ACI ADRIS Match Race Cup

Marcelino Botín to design the new Mutua Madrileña TP52 boat

Vasco Vascotto, sports director of Mutua Madrileña, revealed on the opening day of the Breitling MedCup 2006 his secret for the 2007 season.

The Mutua Madrileña team has chosen Marcelino Botín to be the designer of the new TP52 boat, entrusting the famous Spanish with the design of the new unit the team will use to race during next year´s season.

This will be the second time Botín puts his signature on a design for Vasco Vascotto in the TP52 class, after the excellent results achieved in last year’s season when Vascotto won the Breitling MedCup 2005.


Mutua Madrileña and the rest of the TP52 fleet waited in vain for some wind on the opening day of the Breitling MedCup 2006. Punta Ala, Italy, 23 May 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

Next Thursday, May 25, a preliminary meeting will take place in Valencia (base of the Mutua Madrileña team) in order to establish the working framework for the new TP52 boat. This first contact will be between Vasco Vascotto and Nacho Postigo – representing the Mutua Madrileña team - and Marcelino Botín and his business partner Shaun Carkeek – the new design team -.

During this first contact both parties will draw the general lines upon which the design of the new Mutua Madrileña boat will be based, which will be developed as the 2006 racing season evolves. Vasco Vascotto will bring his conclusions drawn during the racing season after analyzing the reactions of the boat they are currently sailing. For their part, Marcelino Botín and Shaun Carkeek will bring their vast experience in boat design.

Currently, Botín is the principal designer of Emirates Team New Zealand while he and his partner have designed 5 of the 21 TP52 boats racing in the Breitling MedCup 2006, in addition to the first ever Russian TP52 boat, Rusal Synergy, expected to be launched this fall.

Lack of wind cancels racing on opening day of Breitling MedCup

For some of the 19 TP52’s who had left the dock early to make final tuning preparations for what was expected to be a light wind first day of the Breitling MedCup TP52 circuit sailed from the Punta Ala Yacht Club, it was a full seven hour day on the waters of the Gulf of Follonica, but the fleet’s endeavours proved to be in vain as the wind refused blow from a consistent direction for any length of time at all.

There were promising periods and most of the crews had some time under sail, but there was never more than six knots but with a conflicting SE’ly and NW’ly breeze which cancelled each other out, and almost continuous cloud cover and even spells of rain, a start was only ever a fleeting hope.

"It is disappointing. You look forward to it and now you have pump yourself up for the next. There was no way it should have happened you couldn’t do it, it was a good call from the Race Committee not to start the race. The fight between the gradient coming through and not being strong enough, and then every time you got a breeze from the land again. We saw it here before last year at the Mumm Europeans where it was the land breeze fighting the sea breeze, when it was overcast on the land. It happens", emphasised Peter de Ridder, the very experienced owner of the Mutua Madrileña.

Racing is due to follow the published programme with a coastal race on Wednesday.

Breitling MedCup - Coutts aims for consistency

Being free of America’s Cup commitments means that while many of the America’s Cup sailors he will face this week have been slugging it out in Valencia at Louis Vuitton Acts 10 and 11, three times America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts has been able to devote the last few days ensuring that George Andreadis and Jaime Yllera’s brand new Botin & Carkeek designed TP52 is in optimum shape to start tomorrow’s Yacht Club Punta Ala Trophy, the opening regatta of the Breitling MedCup TP52 circuit.

Looking relaxed as he attended tonight’s skippers’ briefing Coutts explained: "We got here on the 16th so we have managed to do five days of sailing here. Wse have checked through all the sails and checked as much of the equipment as possible as we can and I really think we are in pretty reasonable shape. This will probably be the best racing of this style of competition of the last 15, probably 20 years. The competition is going to be pretty tough. All the boats are pretty well crewed. It’ll be a matter of trying to stay consistent, or as consistent as possible".

Coutts finished second last year in the Reichel-Pugh designed Lexus while Andreadis and Yllera finished xth in their Farr designed Atalanti. The co-owners went to Botin & Carkeek for a next generation development of their 2005 Breitling MedCup series winning design Pisco Sour.

"The boat is a little narrower and a little flatter underneath. A lot of the new generation boats seem to have gone that way, looking around", explains Coutts who helms Lexus. "I have not really been very involved with the project until I stepped in a few days ago, but the guys who have done the boat and the sails seem to have done a pretty good job. The sails are a little improved on last year. You can always tinker and change some things to make them better."

Coutts will not sail on Lexus at the Copa del Rey in Palma, Mallorca in July, handing over the role instead to Paul Cayard, who sailed the majority of the regattas last year on Atalanti.

"It is a shame really because the Copa del Rey was added after I had already committed to another boat. I am about as confident as you can be at this point. We have done all the preparation that we can have done given when the boat was delivered, but we are in reasonable shape. The biggest changes we will be able to do over the course of the season will be in the tuning. There are already a couple of small things we will do for the next regatta. Sail-wise we can change as we go, but the way we sail can improve as we go."

In contrast to the build up over the best part of a week Emirates Team New Zealand’s Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info who will steer Steve and Fred Howe’s similar Botin & Carkeek designed Warpath only flew from Valencia last night. He and his Emirates Team New Zealand crew only saw for the first time this morning, and sailed for about an hour and a half today.

"There has been plenty to do to get ready. First of all we have to learn to sail the boat", said Barker on the dock after sailing. "It’s quite different to the boats we sailed on last year. It has moved on a generation so there is a lot to learn. We will need to get out early tomorrow morning and try and line up against a few boats and figure out our moding a little. That’ll be the biggest challenge for the first day. It’s really hard to say we are confident at this stage when we have only sailed the boat for an hour and a half, so we will just have to try and take it easy and see how it shapes up, but we have expectations to do well, but we are realistic as well. I think it is going to be the best keelboat racing that been on show for a long time. To have a fleet of 20 boats lining up and a lot of the boats of a very, very high calibre is great. I think it’ll be great racing".

Another skipper who just arrived from Valencia is Ian WalkerAfterguard of +39 Challenge


Click for more info, the British double Olympic silver medallist who masterminded Eamon Conneely’s victory in the TP52 Global Championship: "I think the main objective will be to stay out of trouble. It is quite difficult coming directly from Valencia after ten days straight of America’s Cup sailing, back to back. But we’ll get a good night’s sleep and we’ll be very positive in the morning", said Walker.

Brazil’s five times Olympic medallist Torben Grael has been unable to take up his scheduled role on Caixa Galicia due to ongoing commitments skippering Brasil 1 during the Portsmouth stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race. Helm Chuny Bermudez commented, "It is a real shame that Torben Grael cannot join us to start the season, but he has had a to deal with a number of last minute issues that have precluded him from coming. Despite this however, we are confident that we have a very strong and cohesive team."