Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE at the Portugal Trophy, Cascais. Image copyright ALL4ONE.
by Stephanie Nadin
It was the first competition day for the new Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE on the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit.
The first three races of the Portugal Trophy in Cascais that were launched today have been particularly difficult because of the shifty wind, making the tacticians' job extremely difficult.
But the French-German team managed to improve all along these first fights against its competitors, which is the goal of this first event for Jochen Schümann and his crew, as the level is really high.
On the first race of the day, Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE did a good start, but was forced to tack in its position to reach the first mark upwind, coming behind the rest of the fleet. The team managed to come back a bit downwind, but it is on the two last legs upwind and downwind that they had an intense battle with Bribon and Bigamist, where Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE managed to keep the lead to take the 9th place.
For the second race, the wind was still really shifty. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE took a start in the middle of the fleet, fighting a little to take its place. But the crew was patient enough to get inside the middle of the fleet at the first mark upwind. They took the left mark downwind, blocked by the Argentinean team of Matador. Jochen Schümann takes the left of the race course, but the wind is still very shifty, and decisions tough to make.
Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE will then stay close to TeamOrigin, and the team will manage to pass on them downwind thanks to big tactical choices, and finishes 7th.
Last but not least, Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE takes a nice 4th place. After a difficult start, the team sailed well upwind until they managed to get into the middle of the leading group, and took a few more places in the second upwind leg.
They were 3rd in front of Cristabella in the last downwind leg, but the English team came back, and Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE finished 4th.
Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE at the Portugal Trophy, Cascais. Image copyright ALL4ONE.
They said:
Jean-Marie Dauris, Bowman: "we have had a great day with good conditions between 12 and 15 knots of wind. We improved all day long, this is what we have to remember. We have the potential to play with the other teams, we are fast upwind, and if we sail well everything is possible. We have a good level to start with, we now have to work well all together. We're not far from the level of the other ones, racing is very close, and the smallest mistake counts."
Luke Molloy, Main sail trimmer: "the main highlight of the day was obviously the last race, we improved in every race of the day, which is good for us, and in the last one we were fighting for 2nd, 3rd and 4th place, so if we continue like this it's gonna be a good season. The crew is getting better. The first couple of days we were learning the boat, everybody was learning their job, so now were are optimistic for tomorrow and the rest of the regatta."
The team is getting better and better, and it is a first good day for a team that never sailed on that circuit before. Jochen Schümann and his team will carry on working hard in the coming days.
Provisional ranking after 3 races TP52 Series
1. Cristabella - 13 points
2. Quantum Racing - 14 points
3. Matador - 14 points
4. Synergy - 15 points
5. TeamOrigin 1851 - 15 points
6. Artemis - 16 points
7. Luna Rossa - 17 points
8. Emirates Team New Zealand - 18 points
9. Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE - 20 points
10. Bigamist 7 - 26 points
11. Bribon - 30 points
Racing is live everyday on www.all4onechallenge.com/audia1 thanks to Audi MedCup TV's player. (First start 13h00 local time.)
All4ONE Challenge
Audi MedCup
