NZL380 withstands pressure to win at Cagliari in Audi MedCup

by Warren Douglas on 26 Jul 2009
Emirates Team New Zealand held its nerve under pressure on the last day of the Med Cup regatta at Cagliari, Sardinia, winning its second successive regatta in the series.

Starting the day with a paper thin 4.5-point overall lead, NZL380 took a third, first and a second to win by 14.5 points.

Before leaving the dock, Grant Dalton said they were hoping for a better breeze, saying the team was just hanging on after Friday’s unpredictable light and shifty breeze had made for difficult sailing.

The team got its wish when the mistral breeze returned, building to 20 knots as the day progressed.

Skipper Dean Barker and crew again showed the patience and composure that has become their trademark on the MedCup circuit.

Dalton: 'We were a little nervous going into the last day as we have had a few mixed results in the light air over the previous three days.

'We started the day just 4.5 points in front, and ended it with 14.5 points. It was a pretty good day, made better because our main opposition had ordinary days.

'It had been a stressful regatta. But today we fired up, while the others failed. I put this down to the mental state of the guys. When it gets tough, it shows.

'We didn’t crack under pressure while people were cracking around us, but that is just the way we sail.'

By contrast their main rivals Artemis and Matador had a bad day. Artemis took penalties in the first and second races of the day and Matador tacked too close to NZL380 and also took a penalty. To compound the problem Matador hooked the windward mark and dragged it 100m down the final run.

Emirates Team New Zealand arrived in Cagliari with a series lead of 16 points and leaves with a buffer of 32.5 points. Matador is second overall and Quantum, the defending Med Cup champion, third.

Audi MedCup Circuit 2009
Region of Sardinia Trophy
Final standings after 11 races
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 1+1+1+5+4+3+5+2+3+1+2= 28 points
2. Matador (ARG), 3+3+4+1+2+7.5+2+5+1+4+10= 42.5 points
3. Artemis (SWE), 2+2+7+3+3+1.5+1+7+9+8+6= 49.5 points
4. Bigamist (POR), 6+5+9+6+1+9+4+1+6+9+1= 57 points
5. Synergy (RUS), 4+8+2+2+5+15+7+6+2+3+3= 57 points
6. Bribón (ESP), 5+6+3+7+8+4.5+3+3+4+7+8 = 58.5 points
7. Quantum (USA), 7+4+8+4+6+6+6+9+8+2+5 = 65 points
8. Valars lll (RUS), 10+7+10+9+7+10.5+8+10+5+6+4 = 86.5 points
9. Cristabella (GBR), 9+10+5+8+10+12+10+4+7+10+9 = 94 points
10. Audi Q8 (ITA), 8+9+6+10+9+13.5+9+8+10+5+7 = 94.5 points

Audi MedCup Circuit 2009
Overall after Alicante, Marseille and Cagliari

TP52 Series
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 38+27.5+28 = 93.5 points
2. Matador (ARG), 36+47.5+42.5 = 126 points
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 40+41.5+65 = 146.5 points
4. Artemis (SWE), 37+62.5+52.5 = 149 points
5. Bigamist (POR), 46+55.5+56 = 158.5 points
6. Synergy (RUS), 74+63+57 = 194 points
7. Bribon (ESP), 79+62.5+58.5 = 200 points
8. Valars lll (RUS), 82+69+86.5 = 237.5 points
9. Audi Q8 (RUS), 89+88+94.5 = 271.5 points
10. Pisco Sour (CHI), 53+78+161 = 292 points

Next regatta:

Portugal Trophy, 18 – 23 August

Final regatta
Region of Murcia Trophy, Spain 14 - 19 September