TP52s at the Costa Azahar regatta

The yacht club of Castellón, a city 60km north of Valencia, organized from Friday till Sunday the 10th Costa Azahar Regatta, a race that despite being important for the Spanish sailing championship rarely, if never, drew the attention of international sailing teams.

Nevertheless, the presence of America's Cup sailors as well as the increasing popularity of the TP52 class added more interest to this local race. Three teams from the TP52 class took part, Cristabella, TAU Cerámica-Andalucía and Bigamist VI. Cristabella, with Shosholoza team manager Dee Smith calling the tactics, easily beat her adversaries on Friday. Unfortunately, weather was not on the organizer's side as Friday's excellent conditions with 18-knot weasterlies turned into a torrential downpour during all Saturday and then into a sunny Sunday with absolutely no wind whatsoever.

Video highlights from Friday's TP52 races. Copyright Panorama Producciones

Cristabella

This recently launched TP52 is the second Vrolijk-designed boat for British owner John Cook. She is currently fifth in the 2006 Breitling MedCup and won the three windward-leeward races on Friday by a comfortable margin.

Three members of Team Shosholoza were aboard Cristabella. From left, Camron Wills (grinder), Dee Smith (manager of Shosholoza and tactician) and Charles Nankin (grinder). Castellón, 9 June 2006. Photo copyright: Ignacio Baixauli

Cristabella racing on Friday at the Costa Azahar Regatta. Castellón, 9 June 2006. Photo copyright: Ignacio Baixauli

TAU Cerámica - Andalucía

It is the former Atalanti, a Farr Yacht design that was launched in the spring of 2005. The team's performance in the first event of the 2006 Breitling MedCup in Punta Ala was clearly disappointing as they finished 18th out of a total 21 participating boats. In need of serious enforcements, the team announced that Santiago López-Vázquez, second helmsman of the Spanish America's Cup challenger Desafío Español 2007, will now be on the helm of the TP52 boat for the rest of the 2006 Breitling MedCup. He joined the team on Saturday, but unfortunately, the lack of wind did not give the Spanish sailor the opportunity to test himself under actual racing conditions.

TAU Cerámica-Andalucía racing on Friday at the Costa Azahar Regatta. Castellón, 9 June 2006. Photo copyright: Ignacio Baixauli

TAU Cerámica-Andalucía racing on Friday at the Costa Azahar Regatta. Castellón, 9 June 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

TAU Cerámica-Andalucía racing on Friday at the Costa Azahar Regatta. Castellón, 9 June 2006. Photo copyright: Nico Martinez

Santiago López-Vázquez, second helmsman of the Spanish America's Cup challenger Desafío Español 2007, is now the new helmsman of TAU Cerámica-Andalucía. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

TAU Cerámica-Andalucía sailing downwind on Sunday, waiting in vain for the breeze to pick up before racing was cancelled. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

TAU Cerámica-Andalucía sailing downwind on Sunday, waiting in vain for the breeze to pick up before racing was cancelled. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

TAU Cerámica-Andalucía sailing downwind on Sunday, waiting in vain for the breeze to pick up before racing was cancelled. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Bigamist VI

The only Portuguese entry in the 2006 Breitling MedCup, this is the former Lexus that finished second in the 2005 Bretling MedCup with Russell Coutts on her helm. It is now owned by Pedro Mendoza who has added the TP52 to his long list of Bigamist boats and is skippered by Afonso Domingos. Lacking any big-name sailors among its crew, the team's performance in Punta Ala was equally disappointing, finishing 17th out of a total 21 participating boats, just one point ahead of TAU Cerámica-Andalucía. Bigamist VI was designed by Reichel Plugh and launched in the spring of 2005.

Bigamist VI racing on Friday at the Costa Azahar Regatta. Castellón, 9 June 2006. Photo copyright: Ignacio Baixauli

Bigamist VI sailing downwind on Sunday, waiting in vain for the breeze to pick up before racing was cancelled. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Bigamist VI sailing downwind on Sunday, waiting in vain for the breeze to pick up before racing was cancelled. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Other TP52 boats

Since the next leg of the 2006 Breitling MedCup will take place in Castellón in less than a month, another three teams chose to locate their temporary base in this Valencian city's harbor.

The Platoon TP52 boat. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The ONO TP52 boat. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Caixa Galicia TP52 boat. Castellón, 11 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing