Emirates Team New Zealand on day one off Cascais. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
by Warren Douglas
The first day of racing in the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit season off Cascais was a mixed one for Emirates Team New Zealand.
On a day marked by a constant changing of the guard throughout the TP52 fleet, Dean Barker and his crew scored a first, a last and a middle-of-the-pack result.
Race start off Cascais. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
“We were up and down, when we didn’t really need to be,” Barker said. “But we take heart from the fact that even though we sailed like that, we’re only five points off the leader. The boat is going well, the guys are sailing it well, and we have good speed.
Close TP52 racing off Cascais. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
“In some ways it feels like we’re shaking the dust and the cobwebs out a little bit. I think everyone obviously feels better finishing the last race in good fashion, so tomorrow we just need to come out firing and get some good results on the board.”
Emirates Team New Zealand on day one off Cascais. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
British boat Cristabella, winner of the practice race, emerged as the leader at the end of the first day in the Portugal regatta. But with all 11 boats posting mixed results, the leaderboard is heavily compressed. NZL380 had what Barker called a “pretty ordinary start” in the opening race, but battled its way back to a respectable 6th placing.
Video of Dean Barker, ETNZ skipper, on the first day of racing off Cascais
“In the second race we had a reasonable start and we were in quite a strong position on the first beat, but it was just one of those races where we couldn’t get anything right and we were completely out of phase. We sailed ourselves right back through the fleet, which was a bit frustrating,” he said.
Close TP52 racing off Cascais. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
But Emirates Team New Zealand took a lot of heart from the third race of the day, when they powered off the start line, got into a good lane, and led all the way around the tricky Cascais course, where the wind leapt between 11 and 14 knots all day.
Close TP52 racing off Cascais. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
“We made mistakes in the first two races and we got punished for it. With this standard of boats and this difficult race course, you have to be sailing well consistently. It’s going to be tough to keep stringing good consistent results together,” Barker said.
Close TP52 racing off Cascais. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
“The racecourse here is not always one-sided, though the right tends to pay a lot. It’s still a case of how you manage getting to the right-hand side. It feels like we had a good handle on it, though.
“We take heart knowing we haven’t taken ourselves out of contention, and with a good day tomorrow we will be right back in.”
Audio of Ray Davies, ETNZ tactician, after the first day of racing
Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
Portugal Trophy, Cascais: TP52 Series Results after Day 1
1. Cristabella (GBR), 2+8+3= 13 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA), 1+5+8= 14
3. Matador (ARG), 7+2+5= 14
4. Synergy (RUS), 8+1+6= 15
5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+9+2= 15
6. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+7= 16
7. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+3+9= 17
8. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 6+11+1= 18
9. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 9+7+4= 20
10. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11+4+11= 26
11. Bribón (ESP), 10+10+10= 30
Close TP52 racing off Cascais. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
Emirates Team New Zealand
Audi MedCup
