Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE Challenge crosses ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Steffano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
by Stephanie Nadin
The competition is fully on at the Portugal Trophy in Cascais, with conditions that got stronger today, besides an Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE which was in a great shape! Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE started with a 6th place in the first race of the day (4th race of the competition). The French-German was blocked on the start, and chose the right side of the race course, where most of the fleet started on the left, which was clearly the most favourable side. Not many changes after that in this race, where Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE managed to keep the 6th place thanks to good racing management in the leading group till the end.
Jochen Schümann's crew then did a fantastic second race, where they were leading the fleet almost all the time. They left on the right of the race course once again, but Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE caught the good wind shift at the right time, and took the control of the regatta, rounding the first mark in the first place. They even extended their lead downwind.
On the second upwind leg, the most difficult was to control the rest of the fleet as the wind was very shifty. The French-German team controlled Artemis and TeamOrigin, who also sailed well and came back. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE and TeamOrigin crossed the line together, in front of Artemis, after a tough battle that sees Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE's victory. It was really a great race, with a very tight finish.
Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE. Image copyright Richard Walch.
They have said:
Albert Jacobsoone, pit: "we had strong wind on both races, reaching 23 knots sometimes. We managed to stay in the fleet during the first race, despite a start which was not on the right side. We managed to maintain the distance we had between us and the other teams without losing, doing nice manoeuvres and good tactics. It was still a good race in the end. For the second one, we took some risks for our start on the right as we decided, and that was the right decision. We left alone on the right, followed by the others, but took advantage of a big wind shift on the right that allows us to take the lead. Then we sailed well with good manoeuvres, good tacks, and without any technical problem on the boat, which is also important. We have to be consistent, which is what will pay pack in the serie, and we will carry on working for that."
Stephane Kandler, ALL4ONE's CEO: "it was a difficult day as the wind was very shifty, with strong winds, so it was tough racing and quite a challenge today. It's amazing that the guys managed to get a first place today, and it's just great for the team. Yesterday I sailed on the boat and saw the team was very concentrated and focused, and it was positive to see the results improving. All the work we have done for six months now is really starting to pay back. We're far from the top level, but the team has really shown it can play with the best ones around here."
Jochen Schümann discusses Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE's success in Race 5
PROVISIONAL RANKING AFTER 5 RACES TP52 SERIES
1. TeamOrigin 1851-21 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand-23 points
3. Synergy-23 points
4. Quantum racing-26 points
5. Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE-27 points
6. Cristabella-27 points
7. Artemis-27 points
8. Matador 31 points
9. Luna Rossa-33 points
10. Bigamist 7-44 points
11. Bribon-49 points
Racing is live everyday on www.all4onechallenge.com/audia1 thanks to Audi MedCup TV's player. (First start 13h00 local time).
ALL4ONE
Audi MedCup
