Thursday, October 11, 2007

RC44 Trieste Cup Photos and Results


Matt Cassidy bowman on Team Aqua

Deneen Demourkas helming Team Omega

Team Aqua leads, with Coutts and Spithill close behind
Today’s fleet racing started relatively calmly with eight knots of breeze, but the bora soon filled in to offer exciting conditions for the ten teams competing in the RC44 Trieste Cup. With more than twenty knots in the first of four races, the RC44s relished in what turned out to be great practice for the upcoming Gold Cup in Dubai.

It was Deneen Demourkas (USA) helming Team Omega, with Russell Coutts on tactics, who took the first bullet of the day. The M30 and Farr 40 owner and her talented team were quick off the line and neck in neck with Team Aqua throughout the first race. Trieste’s optimal conditions saw Team Omega break the boat’s record as they hit 23.2 knots downwind.
Team Aqua, the leaders of the RC44 Championship Tour, demonstrated excellent boat handling skills and team work today. With two first place wins, Chris Bake’s Dubai based team now has a five point lead going into day 3.

Building on their experience from the last RC44 event in Santa Margherita, Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref continues to improve. A win in the third race, slotted Spithill and the Slovenian team into third place overall, only one point behind Team Omega.

The RC44 fleet is moored in the heart of the Barcolana race village. Hundreds of spectators welcomed the teams back to the dock after a full day of racing. Following on from three windy days here in Trieste, it is anticipated that the breeze will be lighter tomorrow as racing continues on the third day of the RC44 Trieste Cup. http://www.rc44.com/