Mutua Madrileña wins Thursday's first windard-leeward race

[Source: Breitling MedCup] After a conservative start to today’s first race, Mutua Madrilena had the pace and clear lane to lead the 16-strong TP52 fleet more or less the whole race. They sailed a conservative first beat but their superior boat speed played to their advantage. Siemens started third boat from the pin end of the line and managed to hold their position against Cristabella. However, Siemens’ mistake was to go too far down the run while Mutua Madrileña and Caixa Galicia both gybed relatively early and quite high coming ahead of Siemens at the mark.

Santa Ana had a good race with a good start and a clear lane, gybing early on the first beat as Caixa Galicia and Mutua Madrilena.

A good race, albeit sailed in light conditions where the right did not pay for Warpath and Lexus. As a result, Mutua Madrileña further distance themselves from Warpath and advance a little bit further in their quest for overall victory in the 2006 Breitling MedCup.

The only disappointment so far are wind conditions in the Saronic gulf that have proved to be very shifty and light.

Mutua Madrileña, winner of Thursday's first race at the Athens Trophy. Athens, 24 August 2006. Photo copyright Carlo Borlenghi / Mutua Madrileña

Part of the TP52 fleet during Thursday's first race at the Athens Trophy. Athens, 24 August 2006. Photo copyright Rich Page / Breitling MedCup