Sail-World.com : Good second extends NZL380’s lead in Audi MedCup after Day 3

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Sail-World.com : Good second extends NZL380’s lead in Audi MedCup after Day 3

Good second extends NZL380’s lead in Audi MedCup after Day 3

'Emirates Team New Zealand NZL380 on leg three of the Coastal race, day three, Sardinia Trophy, Audi MedCup 23/7/2009' Emirates Team New Zealand / Photo Chris Cameron ETNZ © Click Here to view large photo

Emirates Team New Zealand has extended its overall lead in the Audi MedCup Cagliari regatta with a strong second place finish in the 35-mile coastal race.

With a 3.5-point lead and five races to go the team is anything but comfortable. 'One bad race and it could all evaporate,' Grant Dalton said. 'We were in a much better position at this stage in the Marseille regatta. We need a good day tomorrow.'

Today’s winner the Swedish Artemis moves up to second overall and the Argentinean Matador drops back to third, 5.5 points behind.

(The MedCup is scored on a low-points basis – first place earns one point, second two points etc. For the coastal race 1.5 points were awarded for each place - first 1.5 points, second 3 points etc).

It was hot today in Cagliari, climbing to 40 degC on the water. The breeze built from six to 16 knots.

Dalton: 'By half-way around the track the pattern was established and from that point there were no passing lanes and it was follow-the-leader.

'We got close at times but never close enough to attack for the lead. At the finish we were 35sec behind Artemis. The next boat (Bribon) was nearly 3m30s behind us.'

Emirates Team New Zealand NZL380 helmsman Dean Barker and Mainsail trimmer, Don Cowie, day three, Sardinia Trophy, Audi MedCup 23/7/2009 - Emirates Team New Zealand / Photo Chris Cameron ETNZ © Click Here to view large photo

Tactician Ray Davies said: 'We are happy with how the day went. There was a bit of fortune involved, but we sailed well. We had a very good first downwind leg and passed a couple of boats at the bottom of the run and that set us up well for the procession to the finish.

'Matador had been going very well, leading around the first two marks but they got a bit close to the headland and lost the breeze. They were probably five lengths closer to the headland than us. We saw them getting very soft and we were able to sail higher. They had hardly any wind and we still had eight knots.'

Tomorrow’s weather forecast is for a light breeze.

Emirates Team New Zealand NZL380 day three, Sardinia Trophy, Audi MedCup 23/7/2009 - Emirates Team New Zealand / Photo Chris Cameron ETNZ © Click Here to view large photo

Region of Sardinia Trophy
Overall points after day 3
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 1 1 1 5 4 3 = 15 points
2. Artemis (SWE), 2 2 7 3 3 1,5 = 18,5 points
3. Matador (ARG), 3 3 4 1 2 7,5 = 20,5 points
4. Bribón (ESP), 5 6 3 7 8 4,5 = 33,5 points
5. Quantum Racing (USA), 7 4 8 4 6 6 = 35 points
6. Bigamist 7 (POR) 6 5 9 6 1 6 = 36 points
7. Synergy (RUS) 4 8 2 2 5 10 = 36 points
8. Valars lll (RUS) 10 7 10 9 7 7 = 53.5 points
9. Cristabella (GBR) 9 10 5 8 10 8 = 54 points
10. Audi Q8 (ITA) 8 9 6 10 9 10 = 55.5 points

Audi MedCup Series

Standings (Alicante and Marseille regattas and after six races in Cagliari)

1. Emirates Team New Zealand 38, 27.5, 15 = 80.5 points
2. Matador 36, 47.5, 20.5 = 104 points
3. Quantum Racing 40, 41.5, 35 = 116.5 points
4. Artemis 37, 62.5, 18.5 =118 points
5. Bigamist 46, 55.5, 36 = 137.5 points

by Warren Douglas

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4:58 AM Fri 24 Jul 2009 GMT

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