MedCup Region of Murcia Trophy - Azzurra's form continues

by Giuliano Luzzatto on 26 Aug 2011 The MedCup Region of Murcia Trophy has witnessed both a first and a fourth place in today's regattas for Audi Azzurra Sailing Team who now sit just three points off the second-placed team in the overall Audi MedCup classification.

Once again teams waited for the light breeze to fill in on the regatta course off Cartagena in the Spanish region of Murcia. The race committee was, however, able to complete the two scheduled races in seven to ten knots of wind from south-southwest. The first race, in which Azzurra looked for and gained the left side of the starting line, was spectacular. A good start is half the battle and the Audi Azzurra Sailing Team crew maintained constant control over the rest of the fleet to achieve a great first place.

Today's conditions, with light and unstable winds, were particularly difficult and while Container - currently second in the circuit - paid the price in the first race, it was overall circuit leader Quantum who slid back to sixth place in the second race. Azzurra's fourth-place finish in the second race of the day, which saw the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's boat in second place at times, therefore shows consistency. At the finish line Bribon crossed just one second ahead of Ran while Azzurra was just seven seconds behind third-placed Container.

Azzurra returned to port full of youngsters from Cartagena's sailing school who had climbed aboard from their instructor's rib; this 'assault' has become a tradition in the city which always gives the Audi MedCup a warm welcome.

'This relationship that an international sailing event has developed with the local sailing school should be taken as an example of how top-level competitive sailing can and must cultivate passion for an exceptional sport like ours' said the ever-smiling Vasco Vascotto.

'Today's conditions were complex', confirmed skipper Guillermo Parada, 'due to such light and unstable air. In the first race we chose the correct side and from there we were able to control right to the end. In the second we were missing that bit of luck that would have allowed us to take second, but we sailed well without making any mistakes, we're happy. Plus, each day we are gaining points on the two boats ahead of us in the overall classification.'

Audi Azzurra Sailing Team currently holds third place in both the Region of Murcia Trophy and the Audi MedCup overall classification.

Audi Azzurra website Audi MedCup website