"Negra Showing True Color"

A Sunday showdown for the Marseille Trophy is in prospect for the 52 Series after an emphatic coastal race win today by Udo Schuetz’ Container ensures they go into the one scheduled race of the Audi MedCup Circuit’s second regatta of the season with a lead of just 1.5 points ahead of world champions Quantum Racing.

As Container (GER) today overhauled Quantum Racing’s (USA) regatta lead, now with a cushion of 8.5 and seven points respectively to third overall, the top duo have stacked the odds very much in favour of one of the two of them winning the regatta.

In the 40 Series fleet two wins from today’s three races keeps the visiting South American crew of Patagonia by Negra (ARG/URU) in contention for the 40 Series French title, trailing Cascais Trophy winners Iberdrola (ESP) by only three points.

In NW’ly breezes which opened the racing day shifty, unsettled and varying from 6-13kts but built to a proper 18-21kts of classic Marseille Mistral, Iberdrola’s 3,1,3 for the day was bettered by Patagonia by Negra, which is skippered by Nicolas Gonzalez (URU). The double winners of the South American Circuit finished 1,3,1 to also ensure that the odds are now very much in favour of either Iberdrola or Patagonia by Negra lifting the Marseille Trophy for the class.

The 52 Series coastal race in Marseille is often a classic, and today’s 35 miler east to a leeward turn at Cassis delivered adrenalin pumping action, excitement and intrigue right until the end.

Container, steered by Wieser with Hamish Pepper (NZL) calling tactics and Marc Lagesse (RSA) navigating, was quick downwind and up to overhaul long time leader Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA) from the leeward turn, going on to win by 1 minute and 15 seconds as they surfed across the finish line at the entrance to Marseille’s historic harbour.Container win their first race of the season, the 1.5 points bounty coastal race, ensuring that all eight TP52’s have now won at least one race this season.

The recovery of the day, that of Audi Sailing Team powered by All4ONE(FRA/GER)was not only spectacular in its magnitude but proved to have a bearing on the standings between Quantum Racing and Container. The Franco-German team were lying third on the downwind long leg when they caught a large fish on their rudder blade. They had to drop their spinnaker and back up to remove it, dropping to eighth. But a long tack offshore on the final beat back allowed them to get back up to third place, finishing just behind blue sistership Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA).

But with Audi Sailing Team powered by All4ONE crossing in front of Quantum Racing today the American team find themselves needing to have one boat between them and Container to win the Marseille Trophy.

40 Series
Patagonia by Negra won the first race of the day for the 40 Series fleet from an intriguing heat which saw big changes in wind direction and strength until the Mistral breeze seemed to establish itself better on the final leg.
Three of the five strong fleet were over the start line early. Only Patagonia by Negra andInaki Castaner's Noticia IV (ESP) started cleanly. but the Spanish boat was forced way out to the right on the first beat and struggled therafter.
At the top end of the shifty second beat Ngoni (GBR) closed right up to Patagonia by Negra and chased the South American boat around the final mark.
Tony Buckingham's British crew were ahead momentarily on the last downwind but the South Americans held their nerve to win with Ngoni second.

Circuit leaders Iberdrola triumphed as the Mistral wind kicked in to give the most spectacular and physcially testing racing of this French leg of the Audi MedCup Circuit yet. With 21-22kts in the gusts, but still with some big windshifts and bends, the Spanish team may have lead up both windward legs, but Patagonia by Negra - winners of the previous heat - got themselves into the lead at the final turn.

Iberdrola, made a perfect text book hoist at the bear away in the blustery conditions and were able to jump back into the lead.
The disappointment of the South American team on Patagonia by Negra was heightened still further when their spinnaker halyard slipped when they were two thirds of the final run, allowing Noticia IV to surf through to steal second.

Iberdrola went into the third heat with a lead of five points but found themselves on the wrong side of the first beat. Noticia IV steered by Inaki Castaner lead all the way through to the final run when Patagonia by Negra got through.

Marseille Trophy
52 Series

Results after 8 races

1. Container (GER), 7+3+4+6+2+3+2+1,5= 28,5 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA), 4+1+1+8+3+4+3+6= 30
3. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 1+7+3+7+5+5+6+3= 37
4. Bribón (ESP), 3+2+6+5+8+1+4+9= 38
5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 2+4+7+2+6+6+5+7,5= 39,5
6. Ràn (SUE), 5+5+2+4+4+2+9 (DSQ)+10,5= 41,5 points
7. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (EUR), 6+6+8+3+7+8+1+4,5= 43,5
8. Gladiator (GBR), 8+8+5+1+1+7+9 (DNF)+12=47

40 Series
Results after 7 races
1. Iberdrola Team (ESP) 3+1+1+2+3+1+3=14
2. Patagonia by Negra (ARG) 4+2+2+4+1+3+1=17
3. Noticia IV (ESP) 5+4+3+1+5+2+2= 22
4. XXII-Marseille (ESP) 1+3+5+3+4+5+5=26
5. Ngoni (GBR) 2+5+4+5+2+4+4=26