Mutua Madrileña to seek leadership in the Breitling MedCup

The 2006 Breitling Medcup season reaches Mallorca, with the TP52 Mutua Madrileña of Peter de Ridder and Vasco Vascotto ranked second in the overall standings of the Breitling MedCup, a mere 3 points behind the leader Warpath.

After having raced two regattas of the Breitling MedCup Cicuit –Punta Ala and Castellón- all eyes of the team will be focused with great attention to the next regattas taking place in Mallorca, the Breitling Regatta in Puerto Portals and the Copa del Rey en Palma de Mallorca.

The flagship regattas of the Breitling MedCup circuit are of outmost importance for Mutua Madrileña. Without the slighest doubt, the very close racing of the TP52 fleet -with 21 of them taking part in the Breitling Regatta- will offer once again a spectacular show on the waters Puerto Portals. The TP52 Mutua Madrileña boat is already in Mallorca carrying out its training in view of the official racing that starts on Thursday and ends next Sunday.

Given the ferrocious battle they will have to face against the 21 TP52s of the mediterranean fleet, Peter de Ridder - helmsman of the TP52 team Mutua Madrileña - and Vasco Vascotto –sports director of the team- have decided to rely on the same successful crew that finished second and third, respectively, in the first two events of the 2006 season.

The Mutua Madrileña crew will once again include the five members of Emirates Team New Zealand that were essential in the Kiwi victory in Louis Vuitton Act 12. New Zealanders Ray DaviesAfterguard of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info, calling tactics, Tom Dodson as strategist, Jono MacbethGrinder of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info as trimmer, Joe Allen carrying out his duties in the mast and Stu BettanyBowman of Emirates Team New Zealand

Click for more info in the bow will be for a second time the fundamental pieces of the Mutua Madrileña team.

Peter de Ridder and Vasco Vascotto are both very satisfied with the crew of the team, that, in addition to the five Kiwi America's Cup sailors, incorporates two sailors from the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race: Dirk De Ridder, that was part of the American team Pirates of the Carribean, and Jonathan Swain who was aboard the VOR 70 Movistar.

The Valencia-based team has already started finetuning the TP52 Mutua Madrileña boat and carried out its first day of training in the waters of the island of Mallorca.