Friday 24 September 2010

Audi MedCup: Can Matador rain on the Quantum parade?



The Region of Sardinia Trophy leaders have themselves a good shot at second overall on the Audi MedCup Circuit


21 09 2010, Region of Sardinia Trophy © Ainhoa Sanchez/Audi MedCup.

by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Rain?

It’s an unusual phenomenon on the Audi MedCup Circuit, but that is the prevailing weather feature this morning, puddles already forming around the Region of Sardinia Trophy regatta dockside in Cagaliari.

It might dampen the mood slightly for visitors, many of whom have beaten the air traffic control strikes to be here at the season's crunch time, but the precipitation is purely incidental for the 52 Series and 42 Series teams who know what is at stake on this penultimate day of the 2010 Audi MedCup season.

Matador lead the regatta by 11 points, winning three of the last four races. But their attack has brought them to within six points of Quantum Racing on the overall Audi MedCup Circuit standings, with only up to four races left. And Matador now have a gap of 20 points back to TeamOrigin so they have something of a dilemma, whether to go all out for the regatta win and/or to ensure they consistently beat Quantum to land second for the season.

“In fact we have three goals: be on the podium, be second overall and to win the regatta. To win the regatta would be purely a bonus. First we watch behind, then after maybe two or three races we see how we are placed.” Says Vasco Vascotto (ITA), Matador’s strategist.

The forecast for wind strength is promising but far less encouraging for stability of direction. And rain is almost certain.

Around start time the breeze could be as much as 10-16 kts but backing from around 110-130 degrees to between 070 and 110 degrees during the early afternoon, and continuing to build and, clocking back to 020 degrees.

So it looks like a really testing day with the breeze always on the move, shifty, gusty and puffy.

All the action will be available live on www.medcup.org as from 1250hrs CET.

Audi MedCup