Victory Challenge leads America’s Cup Teams in Jeep Challenge 2006

At 10.45 on Thursday morning the four America’s Cup teams competing in the Jeep Challenge 2006, an invitational event organized by DaimlerChrysler Italy in collaboration with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, set out for the first of two round robins scheduled for the day.

Light northerly winds of around 3-4 knots allowed the race Committee to start 10 of the 12 regattas in the program.

The first match saw the Swedes of Victory Challenge up against the United Internet Team germany. The Germans, with skipper Michael HastbaekStrategist of United Internet Team Germany

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Desafío Español 2007 and Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team competed in the second match which saw Italy’s Vasco Vascotto take victory over Spaniard Santiago Lopez-VazquezStrategist of Desafío Español 2007

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Victory Challenge against United Internet Team Germany in the first day of Jeep Challenge 2006. Photo copyright: Jeep Challenge

Racing continued with United Internet Team Germany triumphing again, this time beating Desafio Espagnol 2007 over the finish line by 20 seconds. Victory Challenge meanwhile beat Mascalzone Latino by 25 seconds.

In the third and final flight of the first round robin Mascalzone Latino finished just ahead of Team Germany in a hard-fought regatta and Victory Challenge beat Desafio Espanol 2007.

The final two flights saw a strong United Internet Team Germany beat first Victory Challenge and then Desafio Espanol 2007. The Spaniards lost out again to Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team and in the final race Mascalzone’s Vascotto was pipped to the post by Victory Challenge.

Victory Challenge against Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team in the first day of Jeep Challenge 2006. Photo copyright: Jeep Challenge

Spain’s Desafío Español are at the back of the classification on 0 points having failed to win any of their races today.

“Racing wasn’t spectacular today due to the conditions,” commented Vasco Vascotto, skipper of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team, “from a technical point of view it was difficult to interpret the light and shifty winds. We are happy with our results and on Friday we will have the chance of moving up further.”

Racing is scheduled to start at 11.30 am on Friday with the final two races of the second round robin followed by the semi-finals. The forecast predicts similar conditions to Thursday, with clear blue skies and light and variable breezes.

Results:
1. Victory Challenge (four victories and one defeat) 4 pts
2. Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team (three victories and two defeats) 3 pts
3. United Internet Team Germany (three victories and two defeats) 3 pts
4. Desafío Español 2007 (five defeats) 0 pts