A return to Cagliari, this time in the height of summer, and light sea-breezes might have been expected of the capital of Sardinia, but for the Region of Sardinia Trophy, a brisk Mistral blew on most days through the third regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit’s five event season.
52 Series Day 5 - Audi Azzurra Sailing Team - Image Guido Trombetta Studio Borlenghi - Audi MedCup
Underlining just how open and how close racing is this season, Jochen Schuemann, Seb Col and the Franco-German crew of Audi Sailing Team powered byALL4ONE became the third team to win a Trophy Regatta when they collected the Region of Sardinia Trophy. Their performance included winning the 25 miles coastal race and contrasted sharply with results in Cascais andMarseille where they finished seventh both times.
They lead a 1-2 in the stronger breezes and flat water for the new powerful Audi backed twin sisters which were built on opposite sides of the globe.
Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE was built in Sydney, Australia whilst second placedAudi Azzurra Sailing Team, which races under the burgee of Sardinia’s Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, finished nine points behind in second, also their best regatta finish of the season.
Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE celebrates the victory in the Region of Sardinia Trophy - Photo Ian Roman Audi MedCup
In the 40 Series fleet there was still no stopping Spain’s Iberdrola Sailing Team. They won their third regatta in a row with a scoreline which included five wins from seven races. But, once again that run of wins conceals the fact that there were not always ahead on the water and were often made to work for their race wins.
The Soto 40’s welcomed a local team, following the precedent set for each regatta this season, with Roberto Pardini (ITA) bringing together a crew which was almost entirely from Cagliari. A Melges 32 owner who competes on the international Circuit, Pardini was joined by Ignazio Diaz, and Mario Floris on the mainsail, trimmers Alesandro Gemini and Jacopo Trudu as trimmers,Lorenzo Trimini as tactician, Francesco Orrù as bowman, Luca Segneri as Pitman and Nello Stinca on the mast and foredeck.
For the local crew, many of whom have been to Region of Sardinia Trophy regattas as spectators over the last three years, their happiness was completed when then won the third race of the series.
Dock Out Bribon - Region of Sardinia Trophy 2011 - Photo Ian Roman Audi MedCup
An audacious starting strategy paid off as they shepherded the pack above the committee boat layline before jumping out to an early lead which they managed to hold on to until the finish line.
While the red and blue Audi twins Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE and Audi Azzurra Sailing Team came good in Sardinia conversely there were some tough moments for the winners of the first two Trophy regattas of the season. Quantum Racing finished fifth in Sardinia.
Spectators at the 2011 Region of Sardinia Trophy - Image Ian Roman Audi MedCup
While the Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, who – as Matador – won the regatta last year, finished with a remarkable flourish – 2.3,2,1 over the last four races including a good third in the coastal race- Quantum Racing had a disappointing end to the regatta when they broke their starboard running backstay on the start line for the penultimate race, and then slumped to a seventh in the final race.
Until Sardinia Markus Wieser and the crew of Container were the very essence of consistency, but the Marseille Trophy winners finished fourth as Bribon took their first podium of the season with an assured performance across the wind range.
