Artemis leads from Spain's Bribón at Audi MedCup

by Event media on 5 Jun 2008
After five races at the City of Marseille Trophy regatta, the second event of the 2008 Audi MedCup Circuit, it is the reigning MedCup champions Artemis (SWE) which leads by two points from the supremely consistent Spanish Bribón.

If the opening day of the regatta offered a modest introduction to ‘Mistral-lite’ conditions, 15-19 knots, today’s two windward-leeward contests met with conditions much closer to the upper racing limit for the Audi MedCup Fleet of TP52’s.

After an initial postponement, waiting for the wind to drop enough, there were still 22 knots blowing from the Mistral’s hallmark North West direction when Race 4 started. With the windward mark set under the cliffs of the Isle du Frioul the breeze may have been strong, but it was erratic at times on the approach to the top turn.

Long, spectacular surfs downwind on the limit of control at times, ended with a bumpy turn at the leeward gate just offshore from Marseille’s Pointe Rouge, overlooked by the spectacular Montagnes de Marseille Veyre.

The 2007 circuit winners were on regular form. Tactician John Kostecki helped owner-helm Torbjorn Tornqvist to make two solid starts, while other contenders faltered. And getting into phase with the shifting breeze was key, a talent Kostecki has proven to be strong on over his years on this circuit with different boats, all complemented by solid crew work from the BMW Oracle Racing Team who fill the core positions.

Artemis chased their Reichel/Pugh-designed sistership USA-17, across the finish line to take second in the first race only 15 seconds behind with Platoon by Team Germany earning third.

A 12th from the first race of the regatta is weighty ballast in this white hot fleet for Artemis, but being able to return regular scores, second and third in these bruising conditions was impressive today. Peter de Ridder’s Mean Machine (MON) which lead into this regatta, had a problem on the start line of the first race and was left flat footed, to start last.

Whilst in the second race USA-17 was judged to be one of four boats over the start line and forced to re-start. Russell Coutts (NZL) and the USA-17 crew were seeking redress, believing they should not have been called as one of the four offenders.

The day’s second race proved a resounding victory for Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the crew on the new Botin & Carkeek-designed Quantum Racing, their first win this season for a team which won the 2005 circuit. Vicente Torado’s CXG Caixa Galicia (ESP) also raised team morale with a hard won second, their navy blue bow and iconic ’watching-eye’ gennaker breaking the line ahead of a four-way scramble across the finish line, pipping Artemis which has their 2007 season tactician Kostecki on board.

Artemis go into tomorrow’s 40-mile double points coastal race around the Frioul islands and down to Cassis and back with a two points lead, ahead of Bribón who are a point ahead of USA-17.

Overall positions after 5 races

1 SWE ARTEMIS 12 1 2 2 3 20pts
2 ESP BRIBON 4 4 4 5 5 22pts
3 USA USA 17 6 5 1 1 10 23pts
4 USA QUANTUM 3 6 12 6 1 28pts
5 ARG MATADOR 2 2 7 7 12 30pts
6 GER PLATOON POWERED T.GERMANY 7 9 5 3 6 30pts
7 MON MEAN MACHINE 1 14 3 9 4 31pts
8 ESP CxG CORPORA.CAIXA GALICIA 9 11 6 4 2 32pts
9 ITA AUDI TP52 POWERED BY Q8 8 7 8 13 9 45pts
10 ESP EL DESAFIO 11 10 9 8 8 46pts
11 ESP MUTUA MADRILEÑA 5 8 14 10 11 48pts
12 GBR CRISTABELLA 15 3 13 12 7 50pts
13 RUS RUSAL - SYNERGY 10 12 11 11 13 57pts
14 RUS VALARS 13 13 10 14 15 65pts
15 ESP TAU CERAMICA ANDALUCIA 20 20 20 20 20 100pts
16 ESP ONO 20 20 20 20 20 100pts
17 ESP AIFOS 20 20 20 20 20 100pts
18 ESP CAM-CAJA DEL MEDITERRANEO 20 20 20 20 20 100pts
19 POR BIGAMIST 20 20 20 20 20 100pts