Balearia Ibiza Trophy - Day 3: Cristabella wins coastal race, Mutua Madrileña one step closer to 2006 Medcup title

Revelling in something closer to the kind of breezes and swell that the TP52 class owes its origins to, John Cook’s Cristabella won the invigorating 42 mile coastal race around the island of Formentera today at the Breitling MedCup TP52 circuit’s Trofeo Balearia Ibiza y Formentera.

After what feels like summer diet of modest breezes and exacting sailing, somewhat starved of adrenalin today was a chance to unleash the beast that lurks inside these TP52’s to enjoy a magnificent course which offered the 21 boat fleet a good test of all points of sailing against the spectacular backdrop formed by the island.

While Cristabella built a comfortable lead, second place for Peter de Ridder’s Mutua Madrilena Mean Machine team leaves them with a seven point overall lead in the regatta.

But as Mutua’s nearest rivals, Warpath – Fred and Steve Howe’s Dean Barker skippered boat – were hobbled severely when their backstay broke twice and could only limp to a 14th today, De Ridder’s crew moved to within touching distance of overall victory in the Breitling MedCup TP52 series overall. With just two days of racing left here in Ibiza, Mutua Madrilena’s lead is now 40 points over Warpath.

“It was an awesome day’s racing.” Confirmed Mutua’s tactician Ray Davies, “It is extremely unfortunate for the Warpath and we would rather win racing against them on the water, but it was a bit of a relief for us to see it happen. Each of these races we have been under a fair bit of tension not to make any mistakes, and that did take some of the pressure of us. As we move in to the final races now we can start to look at the discards and I think we only need another nine points on Warpath to win it, which is a nice position to be in.”

A three mile opening beat in 13-15 knots of SE’ly breeze saw Cristabella ease round the windward mark in first place. With Tim Powell steering and Charlie McKee calling the tactics they opened a lead of over one minute on a long Code Zero reach when they first to set the masthead sail, powering away from Michael Illbruck steering Pinta, Stuart Robinson’s Stay Calm Santa Ana and Mutua Madrilena.

Approaching the high cliffs on the South East side of the island Cristabella ventured a little closer to the land and spent some of their lead in search of a favourable lift along the cliffs, and some flatter water while Pinta and Mutua stuck further offshore. The three lead boats were only seconds apart as they passed under the towering cliffs at the lighthouse at Punta De Codolar, where a dozen or so spectators had gathered at the eastern tip of Formentara to see the turn.

But as they set spinnakers for a memorable sleigh ride down the south side of the island, in the biggest swells of the season, Cristabella again rebuilt their lead.
On the long reach and and fetch under jib top and staysail back towards Ibiza, powering along in flat water with the wind to 20-22 knots in the gusts up the west side of the island John Cook’s Cristabella was once again more than a minute clear by the time they passed between the Ahorcados and Puercos Islands.

Mutua Madrileña seized second from Pinta when their halyard lock failed during a gybe and they lost their spinnaker momentarily. Pinta went on to take third gun while Russell Coutts and Paul Cayard redeemed themselves after opening the regatta with an 18,17,12 when they took fourth, holding off Santa Ana.

Start of the coastal race of the Balearia Ibiza trophy. Ibiza, 21 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Cristabella reached the first mark ahead of the rest of the fleet. Ibiza, 21 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The five leading boats at the first mark. Ibiza, 21 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The rest of the fleet at the first mark. Ibiza, 21 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Santa Ana at the second mark. Ibiza, 21 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Siemens flying at the last downwind leg. Ibiza, 21 September 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing