The official practice race for the TP52 Series at the Marseille Trophy had to be cancelled today, falling foul of the stormy, wet conditions and the unsettled breezes. The forecast for tomorrow is more promising, when three races for the TP52 are planned with the first starts due at 13:30hrs while the five GP42’s are scheduled for their Practice Race.

Rain in Marseille Photo Credit Ainhoa SanchezAudi MedCup

The rain was teeming down before dawn and that set the tone for the day. But the 10 TP52 teams, keen to get in whatever practice might be available. After being held ashore the fleet went afloat on the rade Sude and ran through two practice starts, but both saw big wind shifts and changes in pressure. One windward leg was sailed.

Nevertheless the crews spent the best part of four hours on the water, and some of that time was productively spent testing sails and tuning up preparing for the start of racing tomorrow (Wednesday).

TP52 Official Training day Fleet Nico Martinez Audi MedCup

TP52 Official Training day Fleet Photo Credit Nico Martinez

Sandy Meyer-Woldron and Lisa Loch, both well known German models sailed on Audi A1 powered by All4One.

Three races for the TP52 are planned with the first starts due at 13:30hrs while the five GP42’s are scheduled for their Practice Race.

The forecast for tomorrow is more promising with the SE’ly wind expected to be better established.

Quotes of the day:

Pavel Melnikov (RUS), grinder Synergy (RUS):

“We haven’t been able to do much on the water, and we can’t really say how the other boats are performing now…We have changed our spinnakers for lighter winds, and changed two crew members, the navigator and the main sail trimmer.”

Cole Parada (ARG), trimmer Matador (ARG):

“it’s a pitty we haven’t been able to sail more today, we only arrived saturday and we haven’t had much time to practice. We haven’t done any major changes on the boat, just new spinnakers.”

Nacho Postigo (ESP), technical director Audi MedCup Circuit:

“The wind was changing a lot, in terms of direction and strength, so we were able to get just one start, and had to abort the second one when we were about to do it. The weather will be better tomorrow, we expect to be able to run two or three races.”

Dean Barker (NZL), helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):

“It was a shame to not make the practice race, but the conditions were very difficult for everyone: sometimes we had strong wind, sometime nothing. Anyway, we know Marseille quite well, it’s the third year that the Circuit came here,  winning last year. It’s a great race course, real challenging, so it’s always a pleasure to sail here. It’s a great feature, a good spectacle for the Audi MedCup.”

TP52 Official Training day Emirates Team New Zealand Photo Credit Ian Roman

Lorenzo Bressani (ITA), helmsman, Luna Rossa (ITA):

“Not a very good day, today the weather was horrible, too much rain, the wind was too shifty, it was impossible to try a race, just impossible to try anything. Twenty seconds before the start, the committee hoisted the AP flag twice because the wind was shifting big to the left, so it was impossible.

For tomorrow we will try to do better than Cascais, Yesterday we did two informal practice races and we got a couple of second places which is good.

For me this is a very important and exciting step and I am very pleased to be back on the TP52. I have good memories of driving the Orlanda in 2005 with a crew from Italy, but these teams now are very. very good. And Prada of course has a great name in the sailing world so for me this is a very good chance.”

José María Ponce (ESP), helmsman Puerto Calero (ESP):

“We come here with very high spirits after the first regatta of the season, but also we need to be aware that although ten points is a good advantage, if we do any mistake or break something, we can easily loose for or five points. We need to keep calm and sail as usual.”

2010 Audi MedCup Circuit

Overall after Cascais

TP52 Series

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31,5 points
2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51,5
3. Artemis (SWE), 57 
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59,5
5. Quantum Racing (USA), 59,5
6. Matador (ARG), 60
7. Synergy (RUS), 64  
8. Cristabella (GBR), 65
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 77,5
10. Bribón (ESP), 82,5
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 88

GP42 Series

1. Puerto Calero (ESP), 14 points
2. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), 24
3. Iberdrola (ESP), 25
4. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 37
5. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), 40