Photo Ian Roman
The TP 52 fleet has assembled in Portimao, Portuigal for the final regatta of the 2008 Audi MedCup circuit. Portimao is a beautiful seaside resort on the south coast of Portugal. The TP 52 fleet raced here last year.
Today was the practice race for the 15 TP 52s. The race was started in 9 knots of wind from 245 with very smooth seas. There had been one general recall so the committee hoisted the "Black Flag" for the restart. Matador was caught over early and immediately disqualified. She continued to race which made things interesting as she obviously had a very good start and led at the first mark. We had a decent start and got out to the right side which was good. Audi Q8 got to the first mark first having banged the left corner, followed by Matador then ourselves. We got to the left of both Audi Q8 and Matador on the run and got the left mark looking downwind which gave us the right side upwind. We rounded the top mark second behind Matador, who had tacked on us a couple of times which made it tight with us and Audi Q8. The others were quite far back.
Down the final run, we gybed to the left again but it did not pay for us this time and Matador was first Audi Q8 second and we third.
We were happy with our performance and feel ready for the series to start tomorrow. The wind here is tricky as there are two winds that often fight each other. The wind we have had for the last few days and the wind from 315 which is actually the seabreeze from the West coast of Portugal. Last year this West coast breeze filled in quite often. So far, it hasn't made it across the 40 miles of land yet this year. No doubt it is coming one of these days.
Forecast for tomorrow is slightly more wind from 250. - Cayard Sailing Website
Today was the practice race for the 15 TP 52s. The race was started in 9 knots of wind from 245 with very smooth seas. There had been one general recall so the committee hoisted the "Black Flag" for the restart. Matador was caught over early and immediately disqualified. She continued to race which made things interesting as she obviously had a very good start and led at the first mark. We had a decent start and got out to the right side which was good. Audi Q8 got to the first mark first having banged the left corner, followed by Matador then ourselves. We got to the left of both Audi Q8 and Matador on the run and got the left mark looking downwind which gave us the right side upwind. We rounded the top mark second behind Matador, who had tacked on us a couple of times which made it tight with us and Audi Q8. The others were quite far back.
Down the final run, we gybed to the left again but it did not pay for us this time and Matador was first Audi Q8 second and we third.
We were happy with our performance and feel ready for the series to start tomorrow. The wind here is tricky as there are two winds that often fight each other. The wind we have had for the last few days and the wind from 315 which is actually the seabreeze from the West coast of Portugal. Last year this West coast breeze filled in quite often. So far, it hasn't made it across the 40 miles of land yet this year. No doubt it is coming one of these days.
Forecast for tomorrow is slightly more wind from 250. - Cayard Sailing Website
