Tough start to the RC44 Valencia Cup

Facebook!

http://seadubai.com/components/com_gk3_photoslide/thumbs_big/815493RC44VLC010D2_0650fb.jpglink

http://seadubai.com/components/com_gk3_photoslide/thumbs_big/731872rc44valenciacup_7818fb.jpglink

http://seadubai.com/components/com_gk3_photoslide/thumbs_big/327568RC44VLC010D2_0618fb.jpglink

http://seadubai.com/components/com_gk3_photoslide/thumbs_big/893417on_board_1.jpglink

http://seadubai.com/components/com_gk3_photoslide/thumbs_big/643119on_board_4.jpglink

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 15:37

27^th July 2010. Valencia, Spain. Great racing conditions with winds of around 12 knots started the first day of the RC44 Valencia Cup but the day ended by testing the limits of crews with winds of up to 18 knots with gusts of 20 and rough and rolling seas. It meant equipment breakages many disappointments but still ensured 28 matches were completed. Sea Dubai started the regatta with two wins, first against Team Austria and then Mascalzone Latino. But the winning streak ended with the match against BMW Oracle. ‘We got a penalty in the dial up with BMW Oracle but sailed the match perfectly taking the lead at the downwind mark,’ said skipper Markus Wieser. ‘We were two lengths ahead at the finish line but we still had to do the penalty turn and unfortunately that allowed BMW Oracle through to beat us. It was very frustrating.’

‘It was a day of very close racing for us and huge disappointments,’ said jib trimmer Matti Paschen. ‘We crossed the start line behind Artemis after being pushed below the Committee boat in the pre start but we managed to take the lead on the second downwind leg but we couldn’t stay clear of Artemis at the finish and got a penalty and lost the race.’

More disappointment was to come after losing against No Way Back in another close race but in the last race of the day Sea Dubai faced Dubai rivals Team Aqua. A great dial up for Sea Dubai resulted in a penalty over Aqua but then Sea Dubai also received a red flag penalty which meant an immediate 360 degree turn, as the boat came out of the turn the steering cable on the boat broke leaving the team immobile and out of the race.

Racing resumes tomorrow, Wednesday for the last match-racing day.

(Match racing, after seven of 14 flights)

1. Artemis / Terry Hutchinson (SWE) 6-0

2. BMW ORACLE Racing / Russell Coutts (USA) 4-1

2. Team Aqua / Cameron Appleton (UAE) 4-1

2. 17 / James Spithill (USA) 4-1

5. Ceeref / Rod Davis (SLO) 3-1

6. No Way Back / Pieter Heerema and Ray Davies (NED) 3-3

7. Team Sea Dubai / Markus Weiser (UAE) 2-4

8. Katusha / Paul Cayard (RUS) 1-3

9. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team / Tommaso Chieffi (ITA) 1-4

10. AEZ RC44 Sailing Team / Christian Binder (AUT) 0-5