June 7, 2008
by Mean Machine Sailing Team
7 Jun |
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The strong Mistral has been at it again, blowing with such force that it wasn’t possible for any racing to go ahead on the last day of this second MedCup event
USA-17 managed to pull the cat out of the bag in Marseille and Bribón now sits at the top of the AUDI MedCup Circuit rankings
Tough days for Peter de Ridder’s Mean Machine team, who didn’t manage to push forward in this MedCup event with the force with which they started the TP52 season. The disqualification in the coastal race in the City of Marseille Trophy was a harsh blow for the MON-52 crew.
The constant shift in the leaderboard positions was just one example of the nature of this incredibly tight competition, in an incredibly equal fleet. Victory went to the recent arrival USA-17 with Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts, followed by the 2007 MedCup Circuit winner Artemis, with Torbjorn Tornqvist and John Kostecki and Bribón with José Cusí and Dean Barker.
After two of the six events in the 2008 Audi Medcup Circuit, Bribón stands first, followed by Sweden’s Artemis and USA entry Quantum.
Mean Machine didn’t manage to come back from the eventful coastal race and the incident involving Argentine entry Matador and de Ridder’s team fell back into 10th place on the City of Marseille scoreboard. This second MedCup event has proved very hard work indeed for the international jury with numerous protests and some significant incidents out on the water between the entries.
Despite the disappointing result in this second event in the AUDI MedCup Circuit 2008, Mean Machine is determined to achieve the aims set out at the start of the season. “We always knew this season was going to be tough,” comments Peter de Ridder, “there are roughly seven teams with a lot of potential to win. The level is so equal between these boats that you can come in first one day and the next day find yourself at the middle of the scoreboard”.
Peter de Ridder’s team are looking ahead with optimism and enthusiasm. The next date on the Mean Machine calendar is June 30th in Cagliari, Sardinia for the mid-point in this year’s AUDI MedCup Circuit, and there are still 40 races to go, out of the 60 scheduled… and anything’s possible.
CITY OF MARSEILLE TROPHY
Position, Name, Designer, Skipper, R1,R1,R3… Total
1 USA-17, Raiche/Pugh 2008 (Larry Ellison) 6+ 5+1+1+3RDG+3+2+4+1=26
2 Artemis, Reichel/Pugh 2008 (Torbjorn Tornqvist) 12+1+2+2+3+2+3+2+5= 32
3 Bribon , Judel/Vrolijk 2007 (Jose Cusi/S.M D. Juan Carlos). 4+ 4+ 4+5+5+4+5+4.2RDG+3=38.2
4 Platoon, Judel/Vrolijk 2008 (J. Schumman) 7+ 9+ 5+3+6+1+1+5+= 41
5 Quantum Racing, Botin & Carkeek 2008, (Terry Hutchinson) 3+6+ 12+6+1+10+7+8+3=46
6 Matador, Judel/Vrolijk 2008 (Guillermo Parada) 2+2+7+7+12+4RDG+4RDG+6RDG+6RDG=50
11 Mean Machine, Judel/Vrolijk 2008 (Peter de Ridder) 1+14+ 3+9+4+15+15+10+7= 78
AUDI MEDCUP CIRCUIT
Position, Name, Designer, Skipper, R1,R2,R3,…Total
1 Bribon, Judel/Vrolijk 2007 (Jose Cusi/S.M D. Juan Carlos). 42 + 38.2=80.2
2 Artemis, Reichel/Pugh 2008 (Torbjorn Tornqvist) 60+32=92
3 Quantum Racing, Botin & Carkeek 2008, (Terry Hutchinson 46+ 46=92
4 Platoon, Judel/Vrolijk 2008 (J. Schumman) 58+41=99
5 Matador, Judel/Vrolijk 2008 (Guillermo Parada) 67+50=117
6Mean Machine, Judel/Vrolijk 2008 (Peter de Ridder) 41+78=119
