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Mean Machine extends leadership in a difficult fourth day of the Alicante Trophy

Posted 3 months, 15 days ago

Mean Machine extends leadership in a difficult fourth day of the Alicante Trophy
Perfection. That could be the best way to describe Mean Machine's performance in today's difficult conditions that resulted in their fifth consecutive win in the Alicante Trophy. They have a fast boat in stronger winds, their starts were flawless, crew work was great and tactics perfect, calling correctly all three major wind shifts.The low pressure hanging over most of eastern Spain produced a nice strong breeze of around 14-15 knots, forcing teams to change their sails before the start. Still, the breeze was sifting and it took the race committee some time to establish a course. After the postponement flag was lowered, the fleet opted for the pin end of the starting line but a general recall sent the boats back to zero. After another postponement, the race finally kicked off at 2pm.Mean Machine had an excellent start and zoomed to the right, together with Artemis and AUDI Q8. On the contrary, Bribón, Desafío and Platoon opted for the left. Still, Mean Machine lead from the beginning, rounding the top mark ahead of Artemis, Desafío, Platoon and Bribón. AUDI Q8 and Mutua Madrileña could have had better luck but they were squeezed out around the crowded buoys.The downwind leg didn't see many changes in the top positions. During the final approach to the leeward gate, it was already visible there was less pressure around the course. After half of the fleet had rounded the leeward gate, the breeze began to radically drop to the point of leaving CAM completely stalled. The race committee was left with no option but to shorten the race course to three legs and establish the finish line at the windward mark.Once again, Ray Davies, tactician aboard Mean Machine, worked his magic and called the wind shifts. After heading to the right and holding on for 5 minutes, Peter de Rider's boat tacked in order to follow the left shift that would happen. Not only were they able to fend off any possible attack from Artemis, they increased their final lead to over 1 minute.Artemis and especially Desafío, second and third consecutively, had a very good day. The Spanish have a fast boat but their performance left much to desire in the first three days. They finally seem to have corrected their major weakness so far, the poor starts.Mean Machine has a 6-point advantage over Quantum that in turn is just two points ahead of Bribón, without forgetting TAU Andalucia, another 2 points behind. With two races scheduled for Saturday, and given the ups and downs in performances, the Alicante Trophy is still up for grabs.Alicante Trophy - AUDI Medcup / Provisional standings after 7 races

	Team	Races								Points
		1	2	3	4	5	6A	6B	7
1	Mean Machine	7	16	5	1	1	1	1	1	33
2	Quantum Racing	4	5	9	3	2	4	6	6	39
3	Bribón	3	3	1	4	4	12	9	5	41
4	TAU Andalucia	1	1	6	9	9	3	5	9	43
5	Artemis	12	11	4	10	7	2	2	2	48
6	Platoon	5	9	2	5	14	8	8	4	55
7	Mutua Madrileña	2	4	8	8	3	6	12	13	56
8	Desafío	9	6	7	11	5	11	7	3	59
9	Matador	10	14	3	2	10	5	10	8	62
10	Cristabella	11	2	15	7	12	10	4	11	72
11	Caixa Galicia	15	7	11	13	8	7	3	14	78
12	AUDI Q8	13	10	12	6	6	15	15	7	84
13	ONO	8	12	10	12	11	9	11	12	85
14	CAM	6	8	16	14	15	14	13	16	102
15	RUSAL Synergy	14	13	13	16	16	14	13	16	114
16	Valars	16	15	14	15	13	16	16	10	115
17	AIFOS	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	160
18	Bigamist	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	160
19	USA 17	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	160

Start of the day's one and only race. Caixa Galicia was early over the line. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingStart of the day's one and only race. Mean Machine has already tacked and is heading to the right. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingMean Machine rounds the top mark leading the fleet. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingThe rest of the fleet approaches the top mark with Desafío in 2nd position, Platoon 3rd and Artemis 4th. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingVasco Vascotto's Mutua Madrileña gets squeezed in the crowd and touches the buoy. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingVasco Vascotto, Flavio Favini, Nacho Postigo and the rest of the Mutua Madrileña crew couldn't send a clearer message. After hitting the top mark they were starting their 360-degree penalty, shouting at the press boats to get out of the way. The penalty was paid dearly and they now have no chances in grabbing a top position at the Alicante Trophy. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingMean Machine was leading at the leeward gate, followed by Artemis, Platoon and Desafío. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingQuantum and TAU Andalucia at the leeward gate. Both had a mediocre race and although Quantum held on to its second position overall, TAU Andalucia fell behind Bribón. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingSigns of trouble for the race. The clouds hanging over the course sapped all wind. CAM couldn't move at all at the leeward gate when the breeze died down completely. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia SailingYou have to see it to believe it. Less than 45 minutes earlier, these same yachts were sailing at 15 knots. Alicante, 16 May 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing Full Story »

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