Third, second, first a good day for NZL380

Emirates Team New Zealand has extended its lead in the final regatta of the Audi MedCup 2009 series.

Ending the second day of racing on eight points after finishing third, second and first in the three races held, NZL380 is on eight points, with Bigamist 7 second on 17 and Quantum Racing third on 24.

With the trophy for the MedCup circuit 2009 firmly in his grip, skipper Dean Barker’s focus is now firmly on winning the Region of Murcia Trophy at stake at Cartagena.

It was one of those days on the race track – a light breeze that was extremely shifty for the first two races really tested crews. The breeze filled in for the third race.

Grant Dalton: “When we left the dock this morning, the forecast was for conditions similar to yesterday’s strong breeze. It couldn’t have been more wrong, because the first two races were quite light, never above 11 knots. And for those two races the breeze was all over the place…. boats that got two minutes behind could come storming back and end up a minute and a-half in front.

“In race two we were comfortably in front going into the second beat, which should have been enough. Then we missed some shifts and at one stage I think we were eighth before a couple of shifts went our way on the run to the finish and we were second, 4 sec behind Bigamist.

“By the third race the breeze was more than 20 knots at times with the seaway getting up again. We didn’t really get into our rhythm until the first run. Once we were surfing we were off and extended the rest of the way round the track.

“So the day ended with a 3, 2, 1 to extend our lead in this regatta to nine points with one day of the regatta and the season to go.”

Today’s racing as described by the MedCup media team:

“The New Zealand crew may be passed the finishing post in terms of the circuit title, but the tussle for second and third will go to the wire.

“Only eight points separate Quantum Racing (USA), currently second from fifth placed Matador (ARG) whose painful slide down the series’ rankings this regatta could not be checked today, particularly with their eighth in the third race when they twisted their gennaker around the keel.

“Quantum Racing won the first race of the day ahead of ETNZ. A crisp start from Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the afterguard of the reigning champions laid the foundation in the 11-14 knots of breeze.

“In the second race there was a pronounced split in the breeze, especially where it was influenced by the high, rocky promontory near the top of the windward leg. This time there were some major gains and losses to be made.

“Emirates Team New Zealand had led to the leeward gate with Bríbon giving chase. Both tracked left into the building breeze after the gate, but Matador, Bigamist and Artemis (SWE) struck it rich on the right and crossed the leaders at the top third of the beat.

“As the wind flicked back at the windward mark Bigamist was able to slip inside Matador and Artemis, as they were both all but stalled by the sudden change. While Bigamist took the winning gun, Emirates Team New Zealand gained four places on the run and surged to finish just four seconds behind.

“The Kiwi machine was at full revs in the final race when the wind piped up to 22 knots and the seas kicked up again. While Bríbon hung tight and took a good second, there were problems among the fleet. Quantum Racing split another kite, but Cristabella’s season looks to have finished early after the top metre and a half of the mast snapped off.”

Audi MedCup Circuit 2009
Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy

TP52 Series
Overall Day 2
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 1+1+3+2+1= 8 points
2. Bigamist 7 (POR), 6+4+2+1+4= 17 points
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 8+6+1+3+6= 24 points
4. Bribón (ESP), 3+5+9+8+2= 27 points
5. Artemis (SWE), 7+2+7+6+7= 29 points

Audi MedCup Circuit 2009
Overall

TP52 Series
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 38+27.5+28+25+8= 126.5 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA), 40+41,5+65+29+24= 199.5 points
3. Artemis (SWE), 37+62.5+49.5+26.5+29= 204.5 points
4. Bigamist (POR), 46+55,5+57+30.5+17= 206 points
5. Matador (ARG), 36+47.5+42.5+44.5+37= 207.5 points