Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget
Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget
Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget
RC 44 Austria Cup: Spithill wins Fleet Racing Series.
[Source BMW Oracle] The BMW ORACLE Racing Team competing at the RC 44 Austria Cup on Lake Traunsee, with Larry Ellison on the helm and John Kostecki calling tactics, finished in 6th place overall in the fleet racing series. After having won the match race event, team helmsman James Spithill also conquered the fleet regatta with Team Cereef. Sailing with Spithill on board Igor Lah’s RC 44 Team Cereef have been BMW ORACLE Racing crew Michele Ivaldi and Joey Newton. The Slovenian team also took over the leadership in the RC 44 Championship Tour.
After a windless Saturday without racing, the final day saw four fleet races in challenging light wind conditions. “For us sailors, it is really refreshing to sail in different locations, and to mix the conditions we sail in,” said BMW ORACLE Racing Skipper Russell Coutts, who was calling the tactics for owner Patrick de Barros’ Team Banco Espirito Santo. “It tests all our skills. In this lake, you just need to keep looking out of the boat. And if you make a mistake, carry on looking for a solution instead of being frustrated. You must permanently look ahead and focus on the future.”
Team Banco Espirito Santo, with BMW ORACLE Racing crew Alberto Barovier, Noel Drennan and Daniel Fong, won the last race of the event and grabbed the DHL long distance trophy. BMW ORACLE Racing sailing coordinator Julien di Biase joined his teammates on board the de Barros entry.
Other BMW ORACLE Racing crew having competed this week with Ellison and Kostecki are Dirk de Ridder, Ross Halcrow and Alan Smith.
The next regatta of the RC 44 Championship Tour, which is part of BMW ORACLE Racing’s 2008 racing program, is the Malcesine Cup, on Lake Garda, on July 9-13.
Fleet-race, final results after seven races (no discard)(Name of team, helmsman, placings - points)
1) Team Ceeref, Igor Lah, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 9 - 19 points
After a windless Saturday without racing, the final day saw four fleet races in challenging light wind conditions. “For us sailors, it is really refreshing to sail in different locations, and to mix the conditions we sail in,” said BMW ORACLE Racing Skipper Russell Coutts, who was calling the tactics for owner Patrick de Barros’ Team Banco Espirito Santo. “It tests all our skills. In this lake, you just need to keep looking out of the boat. And if you make a mistake, carry on looking for a solution instead of being frustrated. You must permanently look ahead and focus on the future.”
Team Banco Espirito Santo, with BMW ORACLE Racing crew Alberto Barovier, Noel Drennan and Daniel Fong, won the last race of the event and grabbed the DHL long distance trophy. BMW ORACLE Racing sailing coordinator Julien di Biase joined his teammates on board the de Barros entry.
Other BMW ORACLE Racing crew having competed this week with Ellison and Kostecki are Dirk de Ridder, Ross Halcrow and Alan Smith.
The next regatta of the RC 44 Championship Tour, which is part of BMW ORACLE Racing’s 2008 racing program, is the Malcesine Cup, on Lake Garda, on July 9-13.
Fleet-race, final results after seven races (no discard)(Name of team, helmsman, placings - points)
1) Team Ceeref, Igor Lah, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 9 - 19 points
2) Team Aqua, Chris Bake, 1, 3, 2, 3, 7, 2, 2 - 20 points
3) Team Banco Espirito Santo, Patrick de Barros, 4, 4, 4, 2, 6, 4, 1 - 25 points
4) Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano, Armando Giulietti, 5, 7, 6, 5, 1, 5, 3 - 32 points
5) Team Beecom, Isao Mita 7, 5, 5, 4, 3, 1, 8 – 33 points
6) BMW ORACLE Racing, Larry Ellison, 3, 9, 3, 9, 5, 7, 4 - 40 points
7) Team Organika, Maciej Navrocki, 8, 8, 7, 6, 4, 8, 5 – 46 points
8) Sea Dubai, Markus Wieser 6, 2, DSQ, 8, 9, 6, 6 – 47 points
9) Cro-Aut-Sail, Rene Mangold, 9, 6, 8, 7, 8, 9, 7 - 54 points - http://bmworacleracing.com/ - http://www.rc44.com/
