TP52 Alicante Trophy - Day 3: Artemis disqualified in second part of coastal race

How can a boat where Russell Coutts calls tactics miss a buoy and get disqualified? Well, even the boat with on board the world's most famous sailor with 3 America's Cups under his belt can commit errors.

The second part of the coastal race could very well have been a repeat of the first one. The breeze had risen up to 20 knots and waves were building up and despite the shift in wind direction the TP52 fleet was racing in a spectacular way. The leaderboard didn't go through any radical changes and Artemis, with Russell Coutts calling tactics, was comfortably ahead of the other 22 boats. With about 3 quarters of the race through it was almost clear the Swedish boat would win the coastal race and almost secure the Alicante Trophy.

When the fleet had rounded the last upwind mark and was heading downwind, Artemis failed to pass to starboard the final mark and instead of sailing northwest towards it they headed directly north towards the finish line. The rest of the fleet went on correctly and after a final run from Caixa Galicia and Mutua Madrileña, the finishing order was CAM, Siemens and Caixa Galicia.

As it was expected, the race committee filed a protest against Artemis on which the jury initially decided to disqualify the boat in both halves of the race. Russell Coutts protested the decision and finally the jury reinstated the Swedish boat's victory in the first half and disqualify it only in the second, on the basis "that the coastal race consists of two independent races scored separately."

As a result, the Swedish boats hasn't lost all its hopes of winning the Alicante Trophy. Of course, they must make sure that on Saturday's coastal race they don't miss any mark!!

The top of the fleet at the start of the second part of the coastal race. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Unstoppable, Artemis is heading towards the first mark of the second half of the race. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Always grouped together, CAM, Siemens and RUSAL-Synergy heading towards the first mark of the second half of the race. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Artemis, ahead of the fleet, correctly rounds the mark the first time and heads upwind. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Siemens squeezes in and gets second. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Even after two and a half hours, racing was very close. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Stay Calm boat has had a discreet presence and is now exactly at the middle of the leaderboard. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Where on earth is Artemis going north, far away? Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

When the rest of the fleet is heading northwest towards the last mark? Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The leaders of the race are approaching the last mark. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Even after 25 miles of racing, it was very close in the last mark. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The last stretch gave Mean Machine the opportunity to climb up the leaderboard a handful of places. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The top of the fleet sailing towards the finish line. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Photo for the history books. RUSAL-Synergy crosses the finish line behind Mutua Madrileña and ahead of Mean Machine. Alicante, 15 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing