Collision on the race course in the final race of the day. It was enough to take both Bribon and Audi A1 out of the third and final race on day two in Cagliari
TEAMORIGIN racing off Cagliari. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
by Leslie Greenhalgh
A classic port/starboard situation as the fleet approached the first top mark, Audi A1 on port preparing to duck Bribon sailing in on starboard but something in Audi A1’s timing just wasn’t quite right. The duck wasn’t enough and Audi A1’s bow sprit went ploughing into the aft quarter of Bribon, gashing the hull and breaking their bow sprit clean off. Disaster for Bribon and it’ll be a amazing if they make it to the start line on Thursday for the coastal race so a long night ahead for the boat builders. They may not come back in this regatta at all.
Meanwhile TEAMORIGIN were already around the mark ahead and sailing their way to the best result of the regatta so far.
TEAMORIGIN leads the fleet downwind off Cagliari. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
A great start by skipper and helm Ben Ainslie, hitting the line with pace and accuracy enabled them to stay in the top third all the way around race three and take second place in front of Emirates Team New Zealand and behind Matador.
TEAMORIGIN racing off Cagliari. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
The team had a difficult start to the day ending race one in eighth place but undeterred were able to halve that score by race two delivering a fourth place finish just one second behind Audi A1.
Warwick Fluery, mainsail trimmer “It was a tough day. It wasn’t always clear which side of the course to go. Yesterday was easier to read than today”
Matador and Synergy are both having a good regatta to date, posting consistent results and sailing well. Emirates Team New Zealand are definitely in the mix but a tenth today won’t help them in their quest to wrap up the series at the top.
Damage to Bribon following the collision with Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
So after 6 races TEAMORIGIN are up to fourth in the regatta and hold fourth in the series, just eleven points behind Matador in third so tomorrows coastal race with a 1.5 scoring system is pretty important in the grand scheme of things.
Race schedule for Thursday
One coastal race, warning signal at 1300.
TEAMORIGIN
Audi MedCup
