Audi Azzurra Sailing Team - third in Marseille. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
by Guiliano Luzzatto
Today's racing in the Audi MedCup Marseille Trophy was cancelled but the crew of Audi Azzurra Sailing Team took home silverware once again. Italian rugby star Andrea Lo Cicero was a guest on board the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's boat today.
As forecast, strong Mistral winds buffeted Marseille today making it impossible to hold the last scheduled race of the series. The TP52 fleet of 16-metre racing yachts, constructed entirely in carbon fibre and considered to be the Formula 1 craft of the sea, remained firmly moored in the Vieux Port. Yesterday's results therefore become final and Audi Azzurra Sailing Team takes third place as they did in the first leg in Cascais. Container's consistency won them this leg followed by Quantum Racing. The overall classification for the circuit after two legs also sees Azzurra in third place with Quantum in the lead and Container in second.
"We came in the top three again, even if with some difficulty, it is still a good result," declared tactician Francesco Bruni, "we made a few too many mistakes and on two occasions we could have done better, in any case this is a positive result. The next objective is to be protagonists during the home leg in Cagliari from 19th July."
Skipper Guillermo Parada commented on the season so far: "Two legs and two top-three placings, even if we are now a bit further from the leaders and the gap from the fourth boat has been reduced. We know where to improve and shorten the distances, we will put our all into sailing better each day so that we are even stronger at the end of the season."
Today the left prop of the Italian rugby team, Andrea Lo Cicero, wore the Audi Azzurra Sailing Team uniform: "The wind meant we couldn't sail this time but I am really happy to be here at the Audi MedCup wearing the Azzurra shirt, it's a really significant name for Italian sailing. I am a real fan of sailing, I have a Finn, I might sail on a Star as a bowman and I'm really happy to have met this team. Sailors generally have a team mentality which is very similar to the one I experience daily with my teammates. Rugby and sailing are a lot closer than they seem at first glance.
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team calls on all fans to come and watch the regattas in Cagliari from 19th to 24th July in the third leg of the Audi MedCup.
Final Classification - Marseille Trophy
1. Container 28,5
2. Quantum Racing 30
3. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team 37
4. Bribon 38
5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team 39,5
6. Ran 41,5
7. Audi Sailing Team by All4One 43,5
8. Gladiator 47
AUDI AZZURRA SAILING TEAM
Guillermo Parada - Skipper and Helmsman
Francesco Bruni - Tactician
Vasco Vascotto - Strategist
Bruno Zirilli - Navigator
Paul Westlake - Mainsail
Mariano Caputo - Bowman
Pedro Rossi - Mid Bow
Juan Pablo Cadario - Pitman
Maciel Cichetti - Trimmer
Mariano Parada - Trimmer
Simon Fry - Trimmer
Gabriel Marino - Grinder
Alejandro Colla - Grinder
Boat Captain: Pedro Rossi
Owner: Alberto Roemmers
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team
Audi MedCup
