Audi MedCup - Coastal race cancelled in Portimao

by Event media on 19 Sep 2008
Without leaving the dock in Marina Portimao Quantum Racing took a big step closer to the endgame, winning the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008, when the double points Coastal Race was cancelled due to the lack of wind.

Basic arithmetic, conventional logic and the wind as per current forecast for the final two days of the season points to a maximum of 75 points to be scored, completing each of a possible five races left this season, as things stand.

Quantum Racing (USA) have 45.2 points in hand over second placed Bribón (ESP). In third place Matador (ARG) are 24.8 points behind Bribón and two points clear of Artemis (SWE) whose slender chance of retaining the 2007 MedCup title that Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE) and his crew won in Hyères a year ago were wafted away by the gentle breeze today.

Principal race officer Maria Torrijo and her team went afloat on cue, but spent the day monitoring a breeze which peaked at five or six knots and just never had the puff to cover enough of the bay, due to be the scene of what would have been one of the pivotal races.

Ashore the crews waited in the plush surroundings of the sumptuous regatta village, enjoying the excellent food, waiting, watching, musing over lost opportunities and mistakes this season, and meeting to discuss plans for next season.

Local forecasters promise wind for the final showdown windward-leeward races, around 10-12 knots, which should be enough motive power to either ignite any grudge matches set to develop, or to provide open racing.

The most likely duel would be a scrap over third place on the Audi MedCup Circuit between Artemis, with John Kostecki (USA) as tactician and Tornqvist steering and Parada on the helm of Matador with Francesco Bruni (ITA) as tactician.

Portugal Trophy - Standings after five races

1 El Desafío ESP (10,2,3,7,3, 25)
2 Matador ESP (8,5,10,1,2, 26)
3 Quantum Racing USA (4,8,1,6,10, 29)
4 Platoon poweredby Team Germany GER (11,10,8,2,1, 32)
5 Synergy RUS (9,1,4,14,5, 33)
6 Bribón ESP (1,11,12,5,4, 33)
7 Audi Q8 ITA (2,9,2,15,4, 34)
8 CXG Corporación Caixa Galicia ESP (7,3,9,3,13, 35)
9 Mutua Madrileña ESP (12,4,5,8,9, 38)
10 Artemis SWE (5,7,13,11,8, 44)

Full results : http://2008.medcup.org/results/venue.php?trophy=6

Audi MedCup Circuit 2008 - Standings after 50 races in, Alicante, Marseille Cagliari, Mallorca, Cartagena and Portimao.

1 Quantum Racing USA 244 pts
2 Bribón ESP 289,2 pts
3 Matador ESP 313 pts
4 Artemis SWE 315 pts
5 Platoon by Team Germany GER 342 pts
6 Mutua Madrileña ESP 363,4 pts
7 El Desafío ESP 377 pts
8 CxG Corporación Caixa Galicia ESP 439,6 pts
9 Audi Q8 ITA 485 pts
10 Mean Machine MON 565 pts