June 28, 2008
by Mean Machine Sailing Team
28 Jun |
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Newsletter nº7
June 2008
Ciao a tutti! The heat is on and we’ve jetted off to enjoy it in Cagliari… this month we’re bringing you the Mean Machine news from the gobsmackingly gorgeous island of Sardinia. We’re busy preparing for a thriller of a MedCup event in Cagliari, set to kick off on Monday. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s cast our eye back over June… because it won’t be a month we’ll forget. Let’s tell you all about it…!
MEDIOCRE MARSEILLE FOR MEAN MACHINE
Alicante was a roaring success, five consecutive bullets, a top spot on the MedCup Circuit rankings, a top podium spot and the Alicante Trophy to take home… Mean Machine couldn’t have made a better start to the 2008 MedCup season.
As such, engines were firing at full blast when Peter de Ridder’s team headed down to the Southern French port of Marseille to face the fleet again. The mighty fleet knew that this was set to be an interesting and different experience to Alicante, with the famous Mistral wind featuring heavily in re-regatta speculation. There was definitely no lack of breeze, but 28 knots of it led to the cancellation of the final day of racing for the TP52s. The Coastal race show withdrawals from Caixa Galicia, Matador and Mutua Madrileña after and incident.
Marseille was a bad day at the office, but just a bad day!
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.
Mean Machine vowed to get back to form for Sardinia.
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
WHO’S ON THE HORIZON?
This month we also gave you guys a bit of insight into the colourful array of spinnaker designs on this year’s circuit. The humble spinnaker has become a key feature in the team’s identities. They make the different boats distinguishable on the often-crowded horizon and add a pleasing splash of colour to the races.
Among the TP52 fleet there are some really easy boats to recognise: Mean Machine, Caixa Galicia and Mutua Madrileña are just a few examples. Caixa Galicia is probably the most well known for her “all seeing eye”, with two versions, a masculine and feminine eye taking over the spinnaker. When Mutua Madrileña hoists her spinnaker two large “M”s stand out to mark the sponsor name.
The boat to really stand out this season belongs to Peter de Ridder. Alongside Caixa Galicia, Mean Machine’s is one of the most easily recognisable spinnakers, also with two designs.
As well as last year’s bright fuchsia spinnaker, hoisted when the winds had picked up some force, making the boat recognisable from miles away, this year the team have chosen to emblazon the leech of the kite with their famous pink flames.http://www.mean-machine.nl/news?id=7652
WARMING UP
Pre-racing regimes differ from sailor to sailor, but there’s one thing for sure… racing in a circuit like the MedCup isn’t about turning up cold and getting to work. In order to fire up the Mean Machine engines much preparation is required, be it down at the gym or jogging in the countryside, or sewing up the rips in the sails.
This month we had a chat with Navigator Kevin Hall to see what he likes to do between races to prepare: “For me a big step in preparation for the next regatta is to review my performance and equipment from the last regatta to make sure any tweaks I want to make are warranted and reasonable. Most of the rest of the prep happens at the site in the days leading up to the event, reviewing the geography and topography of the area, getting used to any unique navigation issues, and getting comfortable with the calibrations in the local breeze profile”
In terms of physical preparation Kevin Hall has a fun and varied regime: “My fitness between events currently involves me skateboarding with our son riding his scooter, sailing my foiling moth, and chasing our one and a half year old up and down the stairs – I get to the gym occasionally. The most important thing is that I stay down at my target weight, so not as much ice cream as the Finn days!”
The important thing is that both boat and team reach tip-top shape for the next MedCup event… and that means some TLC and practice for both!http://www.mean-machine.nl/news?id=7686
MEAN MACHINE FIRES UP FOR SARDINIA TROPHY
13 boats, 10 races and the halfway point in this year’s MedCup Circuit… Cagliari promises to be positively steaming, and it’s not just down to the unrelenting Mediterranean heat.
Following an eventful regatta in Marseille, Mean Machine will be looking to recover her Alicante form in Sardinian waters. The new boat has demonstrated her ability to take the fleet by the throat, and now it’s time to bring those true Mean Machine colours out again for some thrilling MedCup racing.
It’s been just three weeks since Marseille and right now Peter de Ridder and crew are getting to grips with conditions in Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari. The racing itself is set to commence on Tuesday July 1st, with 10 races scheduled for the TP52’s over five days.
Right now the standings are red-raw, with the table experiencing some significant shifts in Marseille. Cagliari will be a true MedCup test of strength. This halfway point in the MedCup Circuit will mean the start of the countdown to the final rankings in this year’s competition. The teams are all hungry for those top podium spots and there won’t be a team on the water with their eyes off the prize.
CREW LIST
Peter de Ridder Helm/skipper
Tom Dodson Stategist
Ray Davies Tactician
Kevin Hall Navigator
Tony Rae Mainsail Trimmer
James Dagg Timmer
Jon Gundersen Trimmer
Richard Meancham off-trimmer
Jeff Reynolds Pitman
Garry Bainbridge Grinder
Ed Van Lierde floater
Sander Van der Borch floater
Simeon Tienpont Grinder
Stu Bettany Bowman
Chris Reido Mast
MEDCUP RESULTS SO FAR…
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
MORE TP52 ACTION AHEAD! There’s still lots to come:
Mean Machine Calendar 2008
Audi MedCup: Cagliari Tropy 30th June – 5th July
Audi MedCup: Breitling Regatta 21st – 26th July
Audi MedCup: Cartagena Trophy 25th – 30th August
Audi MedCup: Portimao Trophy 15th – 20th September
TP52 World Championships – Puerto Calero 20th – 25th October
We’ll be back next month with LOTS of Mean Machine news!
For all your latest Mean Machine news up to date go to: www.mean-machine.nl
