Copa del Rey - Day 1 - Race 1: Important win for Mutua Madrileña

Vasco Vascotto and his Mutua Madrileña team opened the 2007 Copa del Rey races of the TP52 class with a very important victory. Racing started after an one-hour delay with the left being the favored side and many holes in wind patterns that made the difference. Platoon, helmed by Alinghi's Jochen Schuemann, lead the race from the start although Mutua Madrileña and Siemens were closely behind them. The race's turning point took place at the leeward gate where Platoon made the wrong tactical decision and gave up leadership in the second beat. Mutua Madrileña lead the race from there on while Caixa Galicia recovered nicely and crossed the finish line third.

Start of the first TP52 race of the 2007 Copa del Rey. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Start of the first TP52 race of the 2007 Copa del Rey. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Patches tacking during the first upwind leg. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing


Siemens had a clean start on the left and remained third throughout the first race. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

American newcomer Glory had difficult start but finally recovered to tenth. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Helmed by Alinghi's Jochen Schuemann, the German boat Platoon was leading the fleet at the first mark. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Spanish CAM, a 2007-generation boat, languishes in the middle of the score table. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bottom of the fleet starts the first downwind leg. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Platoon was still leading the race at the approach of the leeward gate, followed by Mutua Madrileña and Siemens. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Caixa Galicia kept gaining positions and rounded the leeward gate at 4th place. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Valle Romano - Mean Machine didn't live up to the high expectations. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Close situation such as this between Valars and Anonimo Q8 are the rule at the leeward gate. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

At the 2nd top mark, Mutua Madrileña had gained leadership of the race. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Siemens held on to their 3rd position at the 2nd top mark. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mutua Madrileña sails towards their first victory. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Excellent recovery by Caixa Galicia that finishes second. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Platoon was unable to recover the leadership and finished fourth. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Even after an hour of racing, the finish was close in the middle of the fleet. Palma, 31 July 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing