Two wins from two starts on Day 4

The wind got up at Cartagena on Saturday and the Emirates Team New Zealand got going, taking control of the Audi MedCup regatta with one more day to race.

NZL 380 came into its own in the 15 to 25 knots of breeze and lumpy seaway, winning both races sailed.
The back-to-back wins changed the face of the regatta. Emirates Team New Zealand has taken the lead with 20.5 points, nine points clear of overnight leader TeamOrigin (UK). Matador (Argentina) finished the day in third place on 30 points.

Emirates Team New Zealand, TeamOrigin and Matador have each won two races at Cartagena.

Today’s results also consolidated the team’s hold on the season championship. Dean Barker and crew are on 118 points; second-placed Quantum Racing is 47.5 points adrift on 165.5 and Artemis is third on 179.

At the end of last month’s Barcelona regatta, Emirates Team New Zealand was ahead by 28.5 points.
Today Dean Barker was very happy with the team’s performance. “NZL 380 likes a bigger breeze and the boys sailed really well. In the first race we led around every mark.”

The second race, a 21.3 nautical mile coastal race, started spectacularly with a wind shift in the final countdown that favoured yachts with space to clear the line on port tack, Synergy, Artemis and Bribon.
On the short beat, Emirates Team New Zealand muscled its way back into the race, rounding the mark in third place. Barker went right downwind and that paid off and NZL380 rounded the leeward gate mark with a small lead which increased on the long 5.5-mile windward leg. From there NZL 380 was never threatened. The winning margin was 2m 13s.

Barker said: “We may look to be in a comfortable position right now. Three races are scheduled tomorrow and we are taking nothing for granted. There are only nine points in it and they could be wiped by one bad race. Origin started today eight points ahead in first place and finished nine points behind in second....

“We’ll have a full debrief tonight and then it’s early to bed.”

The schedule for Sunday has been amended, advancing the possible start time by an hour in an effort to allow three windward-leeward races to be sailed.

Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy
Day 4
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 4+2+5+4+3+1+1.5 = 20.5 points
2. TeamOrigin (GBR), 3+1+3+2+1+3+16.5 = 29.5
3. Matador (ARG), 1+4+1+5+8+5+6 = 30
4. Artemis (SWE), 5+6+2+10+4+6+3 = 36
5. Quantum Racing (USA), 9+5+6+3+7+2+7.5 = 39.5
6. Bribón (ESP), 7+11+4+1+10+4+12 = 49
7. Luna Rossa (ITA), 2+7+9+6+2+9+15 = 50
8. Synergy (RUS), 8+3+7+11+6+7+10.5 = 52.5
9. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 6+8+11+8+9+10+9 = 61
10. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11+9+8+9+11+11+4.5 = 63.5
11. Cristabella (GBR), 10+10+10+7+5+8+13.5 = 63.5

2010 season overall points after three regattas
and Day 4 at Cartagena

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31.5+31+35+20.5 = 118 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA), 59.5+22.5+44+39.5 = 165.5
3. Artemis (SWE), 57+53+33+36 = 179
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59.5+31+63+29.5 = 183
5. Matador (ARG), 60+27+67+30 = 184
6. Synergy (RUS), 64+35.5+73+52.5 = 225
6. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51.5+29.5+84+61 = 226
8. Bribón (ESP), 82.5+41+58+49 = 230.5
9. Cristabella (GBR), 65+43.5+62+63.5 = 234
10.Luna Rossa (ITA), 77.5+44.5+73+50 = 245