Defending champions take the lead in Cascais
Emirates Team New Zealand has sailed into the lead of the Audi MedCup regatta in Portugal, finding the consistency they were after on day three of racing.
In ideal conditions off the coast of Cascais – winds ranging from 14 to 25 knots making for fast and furious sailing – Dean Barker and his crew posted their best day yet, with a win and a second placing. They now lead the fleet by three points, overhauling the British TeamOrigin boat, skippered by former Emirates Team New Zealand team member Ben Ainslie.
Barker described it as a day where everything went well for the team, winners of the 2009 Audi MedCup. But he’s conscious of the snags - a stronger fleet this season and the erratic Cascais conditions - that can still catch out the top boats.
“Over the last couple of days we’ve certainly eliminated mistakes,” he said. “But you could throw a blanket over the fleet at this stage. We feel like we have a small advantage on the boats around us, but not enough to rely on.
“It’s a case of starting well, trying to anticipate the first windshift, working out where we need to be three-quarters of the way up the first beat, and then try to capitalise on our position against the fleet. So it’s just small things all the way around the course where you try to do a bit better.
“It would be very easy to have a bad result - you miss one windshift or you get on the wrong side of a couple of boats, and you’re back in the fleet, where it’s hard to battle your way through to a respectable placing.”
Emirates Team New Zealand did not have those troubles to deal with today, as they were constantly among the leading boats in both races.
In the day’s opening race, NZL380 got a good start at the pin end of the line, and were able to work their way to the favoured right side of the course to lead the fleet with TeamOrigin. The British boat picked up a better windshift slightly inshore to round the first mark in the lead and keep it to the finish.
“We made gains on them here and there, and managed to hold off Bribon on the final run. But in the end, a second place was a good solid result,” Barker said.
“In race two we got a nice start up the line and we were neck-and-neck with TeamOrigin going for the right of the course, before we managed to open up a bit of a lead at the top mark. We sailed a really good race from there for a good win. So all in all, a very good day.
“The weather was great, gusting up to 25 knots at times, which makes the downwind sailing brilliant. Now the boats have bigger sail area, it makes them load up a lot more than before and you get some fantastic sailing.”
Barker acknowledged the strength of the TeamOrigin crew, new to the TP52 circuit this season.
“There are certainly other teams with chances; this is a long way from being over. There's the longer coastal race tomorrow and two more races on the last day which should be just as tough. We have to be patient and take our opportunities.”
Portugal Trophy, Cascais: TP52 Series
Overall – Day 3
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 6+11+1+1+4+2+1= 26 points
2. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+9+2+4+2+1+7= 29
3. Synergy (RUS), 8+1+6+3+5+8+3= 34
4. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+7+8+3+7+2= 36
5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 9+7+4+6+1+5+5= 37
6. Quantum Racing (USA), 1+5+8+2+10+9+8= 43
7. Cristabella (GBR), 2+8+3+5+9+6+10= 43
8. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+3+9+10+6+3+9= 45
9. Matador (ARG), 7+2+5+9+8+12(DSQ)+6= 49
10. Bribón (ESP), 10+10+10+12(DNC)+7+4+4= 57
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11+4+11+7+11+11+12(DNF)= 67