Mean Machine wins Alicante Trophy; Bribón dominates last race

It is a tough choice deciding who to congratulate after the last race of the Alicante Trophy. Should it be Mean Machine, winner of the event with five consecutive bullets, or Bribón, helmed by Dean Barker, that finished second, just a mere point behind, and sailed an excellent final race?

Although the final day of the event started with at least three teams, Mean Machine, Bribón and Quantum, being able to be crowned overall winners, it was hard to imagine they would end up so close. That is also the strength and beauty of the class, the fact it is impossible to take anything for granted, the ease with which a team falls from hero to zero, even if they sail well. A small tactical error can make a huge difference and that was the key point in Saturday's one and only race.

Unlike the previous days, the starting gun was fired under blue and sunny skies and a southeastern breeze of around 8-9 knots. The weather forecast was calling for a significant right hand shift but reality turned out to be the opposite. No matter how well and fast they hit the starting line, the boats that opted for the right side of the course paid a hefty price, while the handful that sticked to the left gained handsomely.

Five teams went to the left at the start; Platoon, Bribón, AUDI Q8, CAM and ONO. CAM finally opted to tack to the right side shortly after start but the rest kept the stayed on the left and grabbed the four top spots. Bribón, helmed by Dean Barker and with the Spanish King aboard, lead from the beginning and managed to win with a comfortable advantage of 1 minute. An intense fight took place between AUDI Q8 and Platoon for the second and third place. AUDI Q8 finally prevailed by one second after a nail-biting photo finish.

The TP52 fleet will now meet again in Marseilles, starting June 2nd. The big novelty will surely be the arrival of BMW Oracle's boat, with James Spithill on the helm, alternating with Larry Ellison.

Alicante Trophy - AUDI Medcup / Final standings after 8 races

	Team	Races									Points
		1	2	3	4	5	6A	6B	7	8
1	Mean Machine	7	16	5	1	1	1	1	1	8	41
2	Bribón	3	3	1	4	4	12	9	5	1	42
3	Quantum Racing	4	5	9	3	2	4	6	6	7	46
4	TAU Andalucia	1	1	6	9	9	3	5	9	12	55
5	Platoon	5	9	2	5	14	8	8	4	3	58
6	Artemis	12	11	4	10	7	2	2	2	10	60
7	Mutua Madrileña	2	4	8	8	3	6	12	13	3	65
8	Desafío	9	6	7	11	5	11	7	3	6	65
9	Matador	10	14	3	2	10	5	10	8	5	67
10	Cristabella	11	2	15	7	12	10	4	11	13	85
11	AUDI Q8	13	10	12	6	6	15	15	7	82	86
12	Caixa Galicia	15	7	11	13	8	7	3	14	11	89
13	ONO	8	12	10	12	11	9	11	12	4	89
14	CAM	6	8	16	14	15	14	13	16	15	117
15	RUSAL Synergy	14	13	13	16	16	13	14	15	16	130
16	Valars	16	15	14	15	13	16	16	10	17	132
17	AIFOS	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	180
18	Bigamist	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	180
19	USA 17	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	180

Start of the last race of the Alicante Trophy. Left was the side to be. Bribón, Platoon, AUDI Q8 and ONO stuck to that side and finished the race in the exact same order. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Excellent start and race for Jochen Schuemann's Platoon. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Initial stretch of the Alicante Trophy final race. The significant left wind shift penalized all boats that had chosen the right side of the course. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Bribón was leading the race at the first windward mark. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Platoon was second at the top mark and Quantum 5th. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Juan Kouyoumdjian, Team Origin's designer, was at the windward mark, taking a close look at the TP52 fleet. It is believed the British America's Cup challenger will have its own TP52 boat next year. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Having made the wrong tactical decision, Mean Machine and TAU Andalucia round the top mark 9th and 10th respectively. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Bribón increased their lead in the first run. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Throughout the race there was an intense fight between Platoon and AUDI Q8 for second place. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Desafío and Artemis round the leeward gate, 6th and 8th respectively. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Juan Carlos, King of Spain, at the helm of Bribón, rounding the 2nd windward mark. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

ONO, a boat that had a mediocre performance so far in the race, passed in front of Quantum at the 2nd windward mark and grabbed the 4th spot. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Quantum finished 5th in the race but held on to third overall. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Another boat that failed to live up to expectations was Artemis, here 11th in the 2nd windward mark, more than 3 minutes behind Bribón. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The TP52 fleet in the last downwind leg of the Alicante Trophy. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Jochen Schuemann steers Platoon to 3rd position. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It's an "AUDI" photo finish. AUDI Q8 beats Platoon by 1 second. Alicante, 17 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing