TPs starting a race off Alicante, Spain. Image copyright Juerg Kaufmann/Go4Image
MarazziSailing keeps its 4th position overall in the AUDI MedCup event in Alicante. Three races were held on Friday under great conditions and the first ever Swiss TP52 team showed it can be competitive in the very tough TP52 fleet.
by Rico Brazerol
It was finally worth waiting for. After a light and fluky Wednesday and a windless Thursday, Friday delivered exciting racing conditions as the fresh seabreeze kicked in early, topping 18 knots in the afternoon.
In the first race of the day MarazziSailing finished 6th after sailing a tough race for the favoured side of the course.
In the second race the breeze peaked at 18 knots and MarazziSailing delivered its best performance. Flavio Marazzi helmed the yacht to a clean start while the afterguard's brainpower stayed on top of the shifts. The Swiss yacht finished 4th, ahead of sailing powerhouses such as Emirates Team New Zealand or Artemis.
When the starting gun for the day's third and final race was fired, the breeze was promising yet another exciting and thrilling race for the TP52 fleet. A less than ideal start for the Swiss team didn’t allow them to keep on with their earlier performance. They were forced to keep on the left side of the course and were unable to take advantage of the heavily favored right side, crossing the finish line in 10th place.
Three more races are scheduled for Saturday.
MarazziSailing in Alicante. Image copyright Juerg Kaufmann/Go4Image
Rod Dawson, Tactician on MarazziSailing: "It was a good day for MarazziSailing and we are very happy with the first two races. A sixth and a fourth in the first two races is a very pleasing result but obviously a ten in the last one is not something to write home about. We wanted to go to the right which was the favored side of the course but we didn't get off the start line. As a result, we were unable to find a lane and got stuck in the left side. From the point we were struggling to get back into the race and we were last in the top mark.
"The left side was definitely better at the beginning but as the day progressed the right became stronger and stronger. We were on top of the wind and the shifts but we have to execute better.
"We are satisfied in terms of boat speed and performance and we can definitely be there and race amongst the newest yachts. The results clearly demonstrate it."
Marc Lagesse, Navigator on MarazziSailing: "Today was actually a very nice seabreeze day. The forecast called for 12 to 15 knots and we got 10 to 18. So it was perfect sailing. The forecast was bang on; we had nice sunshine, so life is good.
"In the last race we didn't have an ideal start and had to stick to the left side while the right was heavily favored. We finished 10th but we could have easily finished 12th. In this competitive fleet, one position can make the difference.
"In the first race, the left side had some potential but in the two following races, the further right you went, the better you got. The pressure and the shifts were there.
"Our starts have a potential for improvement but if we are able to get off the line nicely and go where we want to go we are definitely competitive. Emirates Team NZ and Quantum are very fast boats and I would say that Matador is exceptionally fast. If it were a drag race they would probably beat us but throughout the course we are competitive and if we stay on top of the shifts we can stay in the race."
Audi MedCup
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