As the full fleet of ten 52 Series teams took to the waters off Cagliari today for the final informal practice day, leading in to the Region of Sardinia Trophy Regatta, winds on the Gulf of Cagliari reached up to 23 knots.
The standings for the Rolex Swan Cup in Sardinia were left unchanged from Friday’s finishes. In the Maxi Class A, Danilo Salsi’s Swan 90 DSK Pioneer Investment (ITA) led. In Grand Prix Class B, Piet Hein Baker’s Silveren Swaen (NED), a Swan 53, ended the week first. In the Sparkman & Stephens Class C, Peter Simon’s Swan 65 Monsoon Jaguar(GBR) won and in the ClubSwan 42 Class, it was Enrico Scerni on Kora 4(ITA) who repeated his win of 2008.
At 1126 hours BST on Sunday, the sailing yacht Groupama 70 took victory in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland off the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. By sailing the 1,802 miles in 5 days 21 hours and 26 minutes at an average speed of 12.74 knots, the French crew broke the previous record. Sailing yacht Telefonica Azul took 2nd place.
Emirates Team New Zealand, the 2009 Audi MedCup champions retained the overall Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy for the second year in a row on the same waters where they clinched the overall TP52 Series championships title last year.
Race leader Sailing yacht Groupama managed to struggle past the light winds around the Isle of Lewis and into fresher north easterly breeze. Getting to the breeze first means that they have opened up an 18 mile lead on rivals Telefónica Azul.
Britain’s TeamOrigin lead Day 1 of the Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy off Cartagena. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero won the GP42 Practice Race.
The Super maxi sailing yacht ICAP Leopard retired from the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race due to a boom failure. View a video showing the amazing conditions prior to their exit from the race.
After the first 24 hours of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, The Volvo Open 70 sailing yacht Telefonica Azul, is scorching along at a blistering speed having covered 440 miles of the 1,800 mile course. Hurtling along behind them is Groupama and they are pushing hard.
Sailing yacht Artemis, winners of last month’s Camper Regatta – Conde de Godó Trophy – Barcelona, comfortably won today’s official Practice Race for the TP52 Series at the Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy off Cartagena.
Audi MedCup Circuit, the Caja Mediterreneo Region of Murcia Trophy Regatta starts on Tuesday the 24th of August 2010. In 2008 when Jose Cusi’s Bribón (ESP) won, it was predominantly a light winds regatta. Last year it was Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) who won in big winds, triumphing at their fourth regatta in a row to clinch their overall 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit title.
The Super maxi sailing yacht ICAP Leopard has announced that they are retiring from the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2010.
The start of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race started at 1400 hours local time on the 23rd of August 2010. Sailing yacht Groupama 70, was delayed following a collision with another boat whilst still tied to their mooring. Setting off around fifteen minutes late, Franck Cammas and his crew onboard the Groupama 70, powered away and managed one by one to overtake 25 of their 27 rivals in some rather harsh sailing conditions and a light worthy of Beken of Cowes.