Eva Padberg and Jean Reno sail on board the new TP52. Image copyright Frank Socha.
by Stephanie Nadin
The 2011 Audi MedCup season got underway today with the emotional christening ceremony of the brand new TP52 of Franco-German Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE.
Two international celebrities, the renowned French actor Jean Reno and the German model Eva Padberg, made a formidable godfather-godmother couple worthy of the occasion.
Eva Padberg and Jean Reno christen the new TP52. Image copyright Frank Socha.
Following a record breaking three-month build at the McConaghy Boats facility in Sydney, Australia the new boat was shipped to Europe. Here it fell into the hands of the team's shore and sailing crew, has been undergoing final assembly and early trials at the team's base in Valencia, Spain. In the two weeks since the new boat arrived in Europe the team has assembled the New Zealand-built mast, fitted the Italian-built keel, fitted the sophisticated electronics package and launched the boat to give it an early shakedown. The sea-trials allowed fine-tuning of the complex rigging systems to be conducted, as well as a first look at the new sails the boat will use in competition. This packed period of 15 days has been expertly coordinated by the team's Shore Manager Paolo Bassani.
The boat was designed and built to compete in the 2011 Audi MedCup Series, the first event of which gets underway this week in Cascais Portugal. With little time remaining before the first race the team trucked the boat across Spain and Portugal where it arrived a week ago. The team has been completing the final preparations there since.
Eva Padberg and Jean Reno sail on board the new TP52. Image copyright Frank Socha.
Stephane Kandler, ALL4ONE's CEO: "We are honoured that Jean and Eva, two international stars, marked this important occasion for our team. With long hours of intense work over the last few months this naming ceremony is hugely significant for everyone as it marks the end of the build and the start of the competition. The christening of any boat is always a key moment, and our new TP52 promises to have a bright future. I would also like to particularly thank our sponsors, Audi, Soitec, adidas, Liros and Canal+, because this project is also theirs, and it is thanks to their trust in us that we will be able to give our best on the water."
Jochen Schümann, Skipper and Helmsman: "We are now ready to start the competition. The whole team has put in a huge effort so far and a tremendous job has been accomplished. We are looking forward to racing against our competitors, and the season promises to be nothing other than intense. With six new boats, the competition will be tighter than ever. The best sailors are here, we are here to score points starting tomorrow."
The 2011 Audi MedCup Season starts on Tuesday with the practice race. Racing for points commences on Wednesday and will continue everyday until Sunday. Last year the Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE finished second overall at this same event in Cascais.
Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE
Audi MedCup
