TP 52-Audi Med Cup-Cartegena

By Paul Cayard
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Two races were held today in 14 knot, Easterly winds off the South coast of Spain. Artemis had an ok day....middle of the fleet in both races.

We made a strategic decision this morning to not get in any close situations, no possible fouls, to just sail clean and see where the chips would fall. It is the first day of a five day event and a 5, 6 are both keepers in this fleet. Where we want to be on Sunday is in a position to win.

Today, the right hand side of the course was very favored upwind due to the Easterly flowing current offshore. The committee did not bias the line to the left so the fleet was bunched up at the committee boat end of the line at the starts. Emirates Team New Zealand is being protested by Matador for an infraction at the start of the second race.

We have the same good boat speed that we had at Barcelona and that is very valuable for the coming days.

We did make a few mistakes, mostly downwind on the first run of each race, that probably cost us two places in each race.

My son Danny is here with me this week. Today he sailed at the "guest" onboard. Most days he gives the guys a hand on the tender. We work out together in the mornings, eat together with the team, sleep in the same room, even watched the movie "Hangover" together last night. It is nice for me to have him around!

It is still 34C or about 94F right now a 1800. Going for a swim.
For complete results go to http://www.medcup.org/

Paul