Emirates Team New Zealand update - Day 3 at Cagliari

With the series championship firmly in their grasp the crew of NZL 380 switched to more immediate business for the rest of the Audi MedCup regatta at Cagliari -improving their ranking in the final event of the year.

But Day 3 at Cagliari was not great for the team. A sixth place in the 28.5 nautical mile coastal race has put the pressure on the last two days if that objective is to be achieved.

Four windward-leeward races are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The weather forecast for tomorrow is for 10-15 knots of breeze, but possibly swinging through 180 degrees and forecasters say the breeze could be very unstable. On Saturday 20-25 knots are predicted.

Skipper Dean Barker said the afterguard had not performed well today; otherwise crew work was great.

Tactician Ray Davies put it more bluntly: “I didn’t have a good day at all which showed in the result.”

Reviewing the race, Barker said they got away well from the start and were looking good in the middle of the course. Then the left paid and two yachts passed NZL 380 as it neared the top mark. We rounded in sixth place.

“Most of the run was a procession although we got up to fifth. We had a chance at the bottom mark... we had discussed tacking in towards a headland and changed the call in the last seconds and were punished for it. NZL 380 dropped back to seventh.

“We got back into them towards the end but it was too late.”

Grant Dalton said: “At the start of the season the objective was to win the series championship. We achieved that yesterday – a day earlier than last year – and then the burning issue immediately became this regatta.

“I talked to the boys after the race. They were not happy but their focus is on the four races that remain. Better breeze is forecast and they are intent on getting back up there....”

Audi MedCup Circuit 2010
Leaderboard after Day 3 at Cagliari
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31.5+31+35+35.5+35= 168 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA), 59.5+22,5+44+53.5+34= 213.5
3. Matador (ARG), 60+27+67+45+20.5= 219.5
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59.5+31+63+46.5+39.5= 239.5
5. Artemis (SWE), 57+53+33+64+45.5= 252.5
6. Synergy (RUS), 64+35.5+73+68.5+31.5= 272.5
7. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51.5+29.5+84+78+37= 280
8. Bribón (ESP), 88+41+58+70+40= 291.5
9. Cristabella (GBR), 65+43.5+62+85.5+54= 310
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 77.5+44.5+73+69+63.5= 329.5

Region of Sardinia Trophy
Day 3
1. Matador (ARG), 2+8+2+1+5+1+1.5= 20.5 points
2. Synergy (RUS), 6+5+3+4+1+5+7.5= 31.5
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 9+3+7+2+6+4+3= 34
4. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 8+2+1+10+2+3+9= 35
5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 5+1+5+6+3+11(DNF)+6= 37
6. TeamOrigin (GBR), 7+4+4+8+4+2+10.5= 39.5
7. Bribón (ESP), 1+9+8+3+8+3(RDG)+8(RDG)= 40
8. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+10+5+9+8+4,5= 45.5
9. Cristabella (GBR), 4+10+6+9+7+6+12= 54
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 10+7+9+7+10+7+13.5= 63.5