BMW ORACLE Racing’s win City of Marseille Trophy
by Jane Eagleson, BMW Oracle Racing Media on 8 Jun 2008
BMW Oracle Racing - Larry Ellison and his crew lead by Russell Coutts winners of the Marseille Trophy with its new TP52 "USA 17". BMW Oracle Racing Photo Gilles Martin-Raget
http://www.bmworacleracing.com
BMW ORACLE Racing today was awarded the City of Marseille Trophy for the team’s winning performance with the new TP 52, USA 17. Larry Ellison and James Spithill shared helming duties and Russell Coutts called tactics.
'Marseille is famous for its wind and we had plenty of breeze,' said team owner and helmsman Larry Ellison when presented with the City of Marseille Trophy at the event prizegiving this afternoon. 'We fought hard all the way and got a great result. The crew did a fantastic job.'
The team shared the top of the leaderboard with sistership Artemis in the second stop on the Audi MedCup Circuit. John Kostecki and nine BMW ORACLE Racing teammates racing with owner Torbjorn Tornqvist ranked second overall after eight races in classic Mistral conditions.
The final day of racing today was called off when the mighty Mistral winds exceeded 30 knots.
'It’s been fantastic racing,' said James Spithill who has been sharing helming duties with Ellison on USA 17.
The mostly-BMW ORACLE Racing crew on board Artemis with owner/helmsman Torbjorn Tornqvist has had consistent results throughout the regatta. BMW ORACLE Racing tactician John Kostecki is calling tactics for Artemis this season.
The Marseille event of the Audi MedCup Circuit was the debut regatta for USA 17, the team’s new TP 52. The team had announced at the outset of the regatta that due to their focus on preparing for the 33rd America’s Cup to be sailed in multihulls, they would only compete at the Marseille TP 52 regatta with USA 17, a monohull. Artemis, with a mostly BMW ORACLE Racing crew, will sail the entire season.
Results Table: City of Marseille Trophy
Top 10 Final Results after eight races (14 starters)
(Position, Boat, Country, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6a, R6b, R7, R8, Total Points)
1st USA-17 (6, 5, 1, 1, 3*, 3, 2, 4, 1, 26)
2nd Artemis SWE (12, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 5, 32)
3rd Bribón ESP (4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4.2*, 3, 38.2)
4th Platoon by Team Germany GER (7, 9, 5, 3, 6, 1, 1, 5, 4, 41)
5th Quantum Racing USA (3, 6, 12, 6, 1, 11, 8, 1, 2, 46)
6th Matador ARG (2, 2, 7, 7, 12, 4*, 4*, 6*, 6*, 50)
7th CxG Caixa Galicia ESP (9, 11, 6, 4, 2, 6.4*, 6.4*, 6.4*, 6.4*, 57.6)
8th El Desafío ESP (11, 10, 9, 8, 8, 5, 4, 6, 9, 70)
9th Audi by Q8 ITA (8, 7, 8, 13, 9, 6, 7, 9, 6, 73)
10th Cristabella GBR (15, 3, 13, 12, 7, 7, 8, 3, 10, 78) *
* - Redress Given
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/45136