News

July 19, 2008

We’ve reached the meridian of the 2008 season, but the AUDI MedCup crown options remain wide open. Following 29 of the 60 races scheduled, the Mean Machine team has notched up the most victories, with eight top spots under their belts

We’re almost at the mid-point in the AUDI MedCup Circuit and who will snatch the 2008 MedCup Circuit victory is still anyone’s guess, with eight boats in the running for the top spot. It’s a prestigious crown won by Mean Machine in 2006, Pisco Sour in 2005 and Artemis in 2007, and it will be a fierce battle.

The general rankings are headed up by US team Quantum on 129 points, followed by Bribon on 135.2 points, Swedish team Artemis 1.8 points from the Spaniards and Peter de Ridder and Ray Davies and crew on 158 points. That means just 29 points difference with 31 races to o.

As well as these four teams, including the boat with the famous pink flames flying from her spinnaker, there is also a compact group that will be battling for a step on the podium. German boat Platoon is in 5th place on 190 points, with Argentine crew Matador hot on her heels just two points away. Mutua Madrileña and Desafío are in seventh and eighth place respectively, with 200.4 and 207 points.


The results don’t stop there!
With just three days to go until the fourth event in the Circuit begins: the Breitling Regatta, with its famous golden cap as the top prize, one that Mean Machine took home in 2006. A close look at the results so far is more than impressive, and one can’t help thinking of Peter de Ridder’s comments before the start of this year’s circuit: “This year the competition is going to be even more equal than ever. Yet again consistency will be key in the race for victory”.

Mean Machine has the privilege of being the team with the most firsts under notched up in this year’s circuit so far (8 in 29 races). It’s quite a feat, which is backed up by another record for the season so far: the most consecutive firsts, five in a row.

Mean Machine is also the team with the most podium appearances so far: 14 out of the 29 races, followed y Quantum and Artemis who’ve managed 11 each.

15 of the 19 teams registered have reached the podium at least once during the 9 races sailed.

The statistics do the talking:

Number of first places gained over 29 races sailed:

Mean Machine, Peter de Ridder: 8 firsts (including 5 consecutive first places)
Quantum,Terry Hutchinson: 6
Artemis, Torbjorn Tornqvist: 4
USA 17, Larry Ellison: 3
Bribón, Dean Barker: 2
Tau, Javier Banderas: 2
Platoon, Harm Müller-spreer: 2
Mutua Madrileña, Vasco Vascotto: 2

Number of second places gained over 29 races sailed:

Artemis, Torbjorn Tornqvist: 7 seconds
Matador, Guillermo Parada: 4
Mutua Madrileña, Vasco Vascotto: 4
Mean Machine, Peter de Ridder: 3 seconds
Bribón, Dean Barker: 3
Quantum, Terry Hutchinson: 2
Platoon, Harm Muller-Spreer: 1
Cristabella, John Cook: 1
Caixa Galicia, Roberto Bermudez de Castro: 1
Audi Q8: 1
USA 17, Larry Ellison: 1
Rusal: 1

Number of third places gained over 29 races sailed:

Bribón, Dean Barker: 4 thirds
Mean Machine, Peter de Ridder: 3 thirds
Quantum, Terry Hutchinson: 3
Caixa Galicia, Roberto Bermudez de Castro: 3
Artemis, Torbjorn Tornqvist: 3
Matador, Guillermo Parada: 2
Cristabella, John Cook: 2
Platoon, Harm Muller-Spreer: 2
Mutua Madrileña, Vasco Vascotto: 2
Desafio, Paul Cayard: 2
Tau, Javier Banderas: 1
USA 17, Larry Ellison: 1
Audi Q8, Riccardo Simoneschi: 1