The TP52 fleet ready to sail in Mallorca's Puerto Portals

Twenty of the total 21 boats that constitute the mediterranean TP52 fleet are already in Mallorca's Puerto Portals, ready for the 22nd Breitling Regatta, the third event of the 2006 Breitling MedCup season.

The Breitling Regatta starts tomorrow Wednesday with a practice race. Official racing starts on Thursday and the program will follow the same format used in the previous two events. On Thursday and Friday two windward-leeward races are on schedule each day while Saturday is reserved for one coastal race of approximately 35 miles. On the closing day of the event, Sunday, the race committee has scheduled the final windward-leeward race.

The TP52 fleet has arrived in Puerto Portals for the third event of the 2006 Breitling MedCup. Puerto Portals, 18 July 2006. Photo copyright: Richard Page / Breitling MedCup

The top of the leaderboard is very tight and racing is expected to be very exciting and close. Warpath is leading with 53 points but can feel Mutua Madrileña a mere 3 points behind them while Caixa Galicia is a distant third with 78 points. One team they will surely need to pay attention to is Siemens, currently sixth with 106 points. After a disastrous performance in Punta Ala, the first event of the 2006 season, the team made a great comeback in Castellón two weeks ago. Ian WalkerAfterguard of +39 Challenge


Click for more info took over the helm and steered the boat into the first place of the event. Walker's teamate from +39 Challenge, Bruno ZirilliNavigator of +39 Challenge


Click for more info will be the navigator of the boat and the team will try to recover more places.

Warpath, leader of the Breitling MedCup so far. Puerto Portals, 18 July 2006. Photo copyright: Richard Page / Breitling MedCup

Warpath, leader of the Breitling MedCup so far. Puerto Portals, 18 July 2006. Photo copyright: Richard Page / Breitling MedCup