Copa del Rey - Final Day : Pinta wins final race; Siemens is crowned champion

Ian Walker and the crew of Siemens secured their second win in three regattas on the Breitling MedCup TP52 championship circuit with a hard earned 13th place, which allowed them to win by four points from a delighted Tom Stark and his American crew on Rush Valle Romano.

The seventh and final race of the XXV Copa del Rey for the Breitling MedCup proved a fitting test to what has been a long and stressful week for the TP52 crews. And for the Siemens team, who entered the final race with an 11 points margin, it was a little too much of an emotional roller coaster.

“I think you call that winning ugly” smiled a visibly relieved Walker, “But I think that is one of the strengths of this team that we pulled through. Everything we do on this boat is always about concentrating on our sailing performance, but today it was just about the result. It was a little too close for our liking.”

A last gasp dip, powering in from windward, sails eased, was enough to give the winning gun to Michael Illbruck and the crew of Pinta. Their win with John Cook’s Cristabella finishing 11th was enough to give them third overall.

With racing starting after a one hour delay in five knots of sea breeze, once again the left side of the course paid. The three first boats at the windward mark lined up at the pin end of the start line.

First to turn was Torbjorn Tornquvist steering Artemis, last year’s Copa del Rey class winner, with Russell Coutts calling tactics, rounding just ahead of Caixa Galicia and Pinta. Siemens started too close to Rush Valle Romano and had to double tack to find clear air. Unable to find a fast lane to the left they rounded the windward mark in 12th. They overtook Warpath who gybed early and lost out on the first run, but there always some pressure with Rush in fourth. And with a 25 degree windshift to the left on the final beat there were big gains and losses to be made in the final half mile Siemens held their nerve for 13th, their worst score of the week, but it ensured they have now won three of their last five major regattas, including the Global Championships.

“I felt like it was in the lap of the gods until the finish. We dropped at the start of the last beat and I had my heart in my mouth until the end but we managed to take three or four places and it was OK.” Explained Siemens Irish owner Eamon Conneely.

A final beat recovery from a modest early showing earned Mutua Madrileña sixth overall which sees them leaving Palma with their overall leadership of the Breitling MedCup series intact again, even if it is only by one point from Steve and Fred Howe’s Warpath. “We have confirmed what we knew that the boat is still going well we can leave here as a team on a high, knowing we are leading overall by one point, because we were a little bit down in the dumps during the week, so it is important to us.” Confirmed Mutua Madrilena’s tactician Ray Davies.

Siemens now lies fourth overall in the Breitling MedCup TP52 standings, Warpath second and Caixa Galicia third. Fifth for Rush Valle Romano gave Tom Stark second at the XXV Copa del Rey, their best result of the season so far and top Corinthian.

“It is great to see another Corinthian on the podium. And with Pinta third, this just shows again the strength of Corinthian class,” commented MedCup Technical Director, Nacho Postigo.



Start of final race of the Copa del Rey. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Artemis at the start of final race of the Copa del Rey, with Rusell Coutts on the helm. The Portuguese boat had a very good final race, leading the fleet till the last leg, finishing third, allowing them to climb to eighth place overall in the regatta. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The left side of the course, right after the start of final race of the Copa del Rey. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Pinta, on the left side of the course during the first leg. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Artemis, Caixa Galicia and Pinta arriving at the first mark. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Artemis rounding the first mark, leading the fleet. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Pinta has had an excellent Copa del Rey. Here they round the first mark at third place. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Part of the fleet at the first leg. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bottom of the fleet at the beginning of the second leg. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Artemis and Caixa Galicia rounding the third mark, first and second respectively. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Just like yesterday, today's performance by Mutua Madrileña was disappointing. Here they round the third mark at ninth place. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Anonimo's performance was disappointing as well. After finishing sixth yesterday, they rounded the third mark at seventeenth place. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bottom of the fllet in the last downwind leg. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Caixa Galicia, Artemis and Pinta arriving at the finish line. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Yet another photo finish at the Copa del Rey. After racing more than 75 minutes neck and neck, Pinta (left) grabbed the first place, 3 seconds ahead of Caixa Galicia and 5 ahead of Artemis. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

One team that is gradually improving is Bambakou. Here they cross the finish line at seventh position, finishing fourteenth overall in the Copa del Rey. Palma, 6 August 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing