TEAMORIGIN competing in the Audi MedCup in Cagliari. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
by Leslie Greenhalgh
The first day of racing here at the Audi Med Cup Cagliari threw a variety of conditions at the sailing teams today.
The forecast models were not at all certain what they could promise on the race course and that was evident in the changing and shifty conditions that were experienced with the wind swinging up to 30 degrees by the last race. The committee had to move the marks on virtually every leg of the race.
TEAMORIGIN got off to a great start in the first race in a 9 knot south easterly but it seemed the left side was the way to go and the British crew didn’t go all the way.
Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, TEAMORIGIN strategist explains “We wanted to go left but didn’t commit to the pin because we wanted to get a decent safe lane to the left, sadly we couldn’t hold the lane so had to bail and ended up getting tacked on 4 or 5 times so in those light winds tacking isn’t ideal and we got sailed to the back which was tough. The left came in strong and we were pretty frustrated but that’s what happens sometimes”
The second and third races TEAMORIGIN placed fourth in each race in a steadily bumpier sea state and increased wind. By the end of the day they were seeing upwards of 17 knots on the race course
“The breeze really picked up, we had 17-18 knots at times so it became really good racing by the middle of the third race. It was great fun, a tricky day and we kept fighting back” commented Bart.
After today’s racing TEAMORIGIN finished with 7,4,4 and lie in 5th place in this event, holding their 4th place in the series.
Iain Percy, TEAMORIGIN tactician- "We battled hard today but things didn't fall our way. We can still finish in the top three in the series but a lot will depend on the coastal race, which counts 1.5 points and where we have often struggled. But we are due a good one."
Race schedule for Wednesday
Three races scheduled, first warning signal at 1300.
TEAMORIGIN
Audi MedCup
