Audi MedCup: ETNZ Finish Fourth in Marseille

by Warren Douglas

The notorious mistral wind forced an early end to the Audi MedCup regatta at Marseille. No racing was possible at the weekend and the event finished with five races unsailed.

They were five important races for Emirates Team New Zealand. After a bad first day NZL 380 improved steadily but needed the weekend races to climb further up the leader board.

With the wind gusting to 30 knots on Saturday and 40 knots on Sunday, there was never much chance that racing would get underway. Crews were on standby, but the call to the leave the dock never came.

The mistral handed the regatta to the American team Quantum Racing which had performed consistently. Emirates Team New Zealand was fourth at Marseille, but retains its hold on the main MedCup prize, the season championship.

With two of five regattas completed, Emirates Team New Zealand is on 62.5 points, 18.5 points clear of Audi A1 on 81. Quantum is third on 82 points.

The mistral ended a remarkable run of MedCup victories for Dean Barker and his crew which started at Marseille in 2009.

Dean Barker: “After the bad start (ninth overall at the end of the first day) we needed the rest of the event to claw our way back.”

The process started on the second day with a fourth and a third placings and continued with second in the coastal race.

“We ran out of races so did not get the chance we wanted. Congratulations to Quantum, they deserved the win and Matador (second) and Audi A1 (third) sailed well and demonstrated again that consistency is rewarded.”

The next regatta is in Barcelona, Spain, scheduled for July 20 – 25.

Marseille Trophy

TP52 Series
Overall after three days’ racing
1. Quantum Racing (USA), 8+1+1+5+6+1.5 = 22.5 points
2. Matador (ARG), 3+3+4+1+10+6 = 27
3. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 2+9+2+10+2+4.5 = 29.5
4. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 10+6+5+4+3+3 = 31
5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+7+7+3+1+9 = 31
6. Synergy (RUS), 9+2+6+7+4+7.5 = 35.5
7. Bribón (ESP), 1+8+8+2+7+15 = 41
8. C ristabella (GBR), 6+4+3+8+9+13.5 = 43.5
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+5+10+9+5+10.5 = 44.5
10. Artemis (SWE), 7+11(RAF)+9+6+8+12 = 53

MedCup 2010
Overall after two regattas, Portugal Trophy Cascais and Marseille Trophy

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31.5+31 = 62.5 points
2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51,5+29.5 = 81
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 59/,5+22.5 = 82
4. Matador (ARG), 60+27 = 87
5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59.5+31 = 90.5
6. Synergy (RUS), 64+35.5 = 99.5
7. Cristabella (GBR), 65+43.5 = 108.5
8. Artemis (SWE), 57+53 = 110
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 77.5+44..5 = 122
10. Bribón (ESP), 82.5+41 = 123.5

Emirates Team New Zealand
Audi MedCup