Bribón grabs leadership at Alicante Trophy; Mean Machine scores two wins

Two old sayings were once again verified in today's races, second day of the Alicante Trophy. First, consistency pays, as proved by Dean Barker's Bribón and Terry Hutchinson's Quantum Racing. Second, don't count out the new boats and there is no better proof than the 62-year old Peter de Ridder who helmed the brand new Mean Machine to two victories out of three.

Wind conditions varied, getting better as the day progressed. The initial start was given under cloudy skies and a breeze of around 6-7 knots. The first sun rays had started poking through the clouds and the breeze built up at 10-11 knots when the second start was given. Finally, the 16-strong TP52 fleet went off the starting line for the third time under sunny skies, choppy seas and 14-15 knots of southern breezes.

Read below the report and photos from each race.

Peter de Ridder, Skipper and Helmsman of Mean Machine

“Yesterday we were pretty disappointed and we had a good chat about our strategy and tactics, and tried to do better today. We were already very happy with the 5th and it got better with two firsts. We had a good start and we liked the right; that gave us an edge on the other boats. Most of the time in that situation you just stretch ahead, and we were clear, so were comfortable. I think picking the right, the tactical decision was important; it wasn’t boat speed, but a better strategy plan executed. Nothing changed boat handling-wise it all came together that’s all.”

Alicante Trophy / Provisional standings after 5 races

	Team	Races					Points
		1	2	3	4	5
1	Bribón	3	3	1	4	4	15
2	Quantum Racing	4	5	9	3	2	23
3	Mutua Madrileña	2	4	8	8	3	25
4	TAU Andalucia	1	1	6	9	9	26
5	Mean Machine	7	16	5	1	1	30
6	Platoon	5	9	2	5	14	35
7	Desafío	9	6	7	11	5	38
8	Matador	10	14	3	2	10	39
9	Artemis	12	11	4	10	7	44
10	Cristabella	11	2	15	7	12	47
11	AUDI Q8	13	10	12	6	6	47
12	ONO	8	12	10	12	11	53
13	Caixa Galicia	15	7	11	13	8	54
14	CAM	6	8	16	14	15	59
15	RUSAL Synergy	14	13	13	16	16	72
16	Valars	16	15	14	15	13	73
17	AIFOS	20	20	20	20	20	100
18	Bigamist	20	20	20	20	20	100
19	USA 17	20	20	20	20	20	100

Race 1It looked as if we were about to go through a repeat of yesterday's scenario but it fortunately didn't turn out to be that way. The race committee fired the starting gun right on time when there were 6-7 knots of southern breeze. The fleet opted for the pin end with CAM and Desafío crossing the line early and getting penalized.

The right hand side of the course paid off handsomely for the boats that chose it. Despite a mediocre start, Bribón, helmed by Dean Barker, managed to work its way up the fleet and lead at the top mark. Platoon, the German boat crewed by sailors of the America's Cup German challenger, squeezed in at the top mark between Bribón and Matador.

The right side of the course remained the favorite one throughout the race and the top 3 leadership was not altered. There was an intense battle between Artemis and Mutua Madrileña in the fourth spot, but last year's champions prevailed in the second beat. Vasco Vascotto's boat opted for the wrong side of the course and slipped 5 positions.

Start of the day's first race. CAM and Desafío are over the line and get a penalty. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Start of the day's first race. CAM and Desafío are over the line and get a penalty. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

At the approach to the top mark, Bribón is leading the fleet while Platoon squeezes in on second place. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The fleet at the top mark. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The first run was a tight battle for leadership between Bribón and Platoon. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Terry Hutchinson's brand new Quantum Racing was 7th at the leeward gate. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Matador was third, here at the 2nd top mark, closely behind the two leading boats. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Artemis was fourth at the 2nd top mark, but today's performance was nothing to write home about. James Spithill, watching the race from the tender, will surely have some study to do. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Another big team that disappointed today was Desafío, here 9th at the 2nd top mark. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Yesterday undisputed winner, TAU Andalucia, had a bad start but managed to pass 7 boats and finish 5th. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Race 2Without it was Mean Machine's time of glory. After a disastrous start on Tuesday, Peter de Ridder's boat and team showed their true selves.

The breeze had already picked up, the clouds had begun to dissipate and the seas were getting considerably choppier. Unlike the first race, all 16 boats had a clean start and again the right side was the one to choose. The price for not making the right choice was high and Artemis learned it the hard way by rounding the top mark dead last. At the top of the fleet, Matador was leading, closely followed by AUDI Q8, Mean Machine and Quantum Racing.

From there on, the right tactical choices on Mean Machine helped her gain the top spot while AUDI Q8 kept slipping back, allowing Quantum and Bribón to finish third and fourth respectively. This allowed Dean Barker's boat to sit comfortably onto their overall leadership.

It was a clean start for the second race of the day. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Matador and AUDI Q8 were leading at the 1st top mark. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mean Machine and Quantum Racing were following close behind. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The bottom of the fleet at the beginning of the first run. You have to see it to believe it. Artemis, last year's champions being dead last. For sure, John Kostecki didn't look smart today. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

At the second top mark, Mean Machine was leading the race, while Bribón had climbed to third position, in front of Quantum Racing. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mutua Madrileña rounded the 2nd top mark at 7th place. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mean Machine scores its first victory, followed by Matador and Quantum Racing. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Race 3The third and last day of the race was undoubtedly the most exciting one. With a breeze reaching 15 knots and a definitely choppier sea the race became more physically demanding but also more spectacular.

Like the first race, the same two Spanish boats, CAM and Desafío, had an awful start, the former by being early over the line and the latter by "shooting their own leg", as Paul Cayard stated. According to Cayard, they had a string on the tiller break that caused him to lose control of the boat and they went beyond head to wind and fouled TAU Andalucia.

Mean Machine lead the race from the beginning and saw its advantage increase in every leg. Another tough fight took place for the remaining 3 top positions, between Quantum, Mutua Madrileña and Bribón, finishing in that order.

Start of the third race. CAM crosses the line too early while Desafío will get penalized for hitting TAU Andalucia. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mean Machine and Quantum were leading the race at the 1st top mark. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Racing was at times extremely close, here between Quantum and AUDI Q8 at the top mark. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The leading pack at the beginning of the first run. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Ricardo Simoneschi's AUDI Q8 did not withstand the pressure and slipped to 6th place at the leeward gate. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mean Machine approaching the kast mark, comfortably ahead of the fleet. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Platoon had worked its way up the fleet to 7th place at the last mark but a fatal error would cost them dearly. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

After an awful spinnaker hoist, Platoon falls back to 14th place. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Follow the leader... Quantum, Mutua Madrileña and Bribón are approaching the finish line. In fifth position, Desafío recovered an incredible 11 places. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

After an hour of racing, 7 boats crossed the finish line within 15 seconds. Alicante, 14 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing