Practice Day : 2010 Audi MedCup Camper Regatta - Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona
Positive practice race for TEAM ORIGIN
TEAM ORIGIN CREW LINE UP
Matt Cornwell : Bow : GBR
Julian Cressant : Mid Bow : FRA
Chris Brittle : Grind : GBR
Christian Kamp : Trimmer : DEN
Andy Hemmings : Trimmer : GBR
James Stagg : Pit : GBR
Warwick Fleury : Main: NZL
Kelvin Harrap : Strategist : NZL
Andrew Simpson : Strategist : USA
Iain Percy : Tactician : GBR
Ed Smyth : Navigator: NZL
Ben Ainslie : Skipper/Helm : GBR
TEAMORIGIN lead on the water from gun to gun chased by Emirates Team New Zealand but both chose to hook the wrong way round the finish line leaving the finish gun to AudiA1 powered by ALL4ONE.
When they turned round the wrong side of the finish line, bowing to superstitions or not, TeamOrigin (GBR) and Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) had done enough to prove during today's official TP52 Practice Race that they should be contenders in the light breezes which are expected for the Regata Camper - Conde de Godo Trophy - Barcelona.
Racing in less than 10 knots of gentle sea breeze the British TP52 helmed by four times Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie (GBR) was more than one minute ahead at the finish, after gaining on each successive leg, but they turned back upwind through the finish line, as did the Kiwi reigning champions - both registering DNF's - leaving AudiA1 powered by ALL4ONE (GER/FRA) to take the winner's gun.
The practice race played out pretty much in line with the expectations which have been voiced around Barcelona's Moll de la Fusta dockside over recent days: this will be a close regatta, the TP52's will be very even in speed in the lighter winds, and anyone who gets off the start line and around the first turning mark in the top two or three has a good chance of holding on.
The consensus is that this will be a long, intense and hard fought regatta in light winds and high daytime temperatures, and with up to 12 races it could prove pivotal as we pass theoretical half way mark of the 2010 season here.
GP42's Readying to go After a run of bad luck in the first two regattas in Cascais and Marseille, there is no crew keener to go racing again in the GP42 Series than John Bassadone and his Peninsula Petroleum (GBR) team. Twice in successive regattas they having broken their masthead crane, causing them to miss a race each time. The last time it was particularly heartbreaking, as they had just worked themselves up to lead around the top mark, only to have the crane crack and fail just moments before hoisting their spinnaker.
The remaining GP42 teams are doing their final preparations and tuning to be ready for tomorrow's Practice Race. Iberdrola (ESP), AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), and Madrid - Caser Seguros (ESP) were also out on the water practicing, while Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) is awaiting for their remaining team members to arrive on site. -- Sabina Mollart-Rogerson
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