Audi Azzurra Sailing Team finishes sixth in coastal race due to bad luck: 2011 Murcia Region Trophy
Misfortune during the 25-mile coastal race on Day 4 of 2011 Region of Murcia Trophy at Cartagena in Spain brought down the Italian Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, and they finished sixth in
the overall standings. The Italian team were in the lead from the beginning of coastal race but as they reached a point just a mile from the finish line, the head of their mainsail dislodged and slowed them down.
Audi Azzurra grabbed an early lead in the coastal race but at the first windward mark they were overtaken by the 2011 Region of Sardinia Trophy winners, Franco-German Audi Sailing Team
Powered by All4One. However, they kept trying to fight back and owing to a great sailing strategy, reclaimed the top spot.
They were just a mile behind the finish line when the mainsail head dislocated and sagged with the mainsail. The boat slowed down due to the incident and America’s Quantum Racing clinched
the race while Audi Azzurra tumbled down to number six.
While speaking to the local media after the race, Audi Azzurra tactician Francesco Bruni said, “We don´t like to speak about luck when we lose places but this time was really something
special. We broke the halyard of the main, the little part that holds the sail up, and then it came down.”
He further added, “We were just one hundred meters away for the end and the race was over for us. It really felt as if it was God´s sign for us not to win the coastal. We are doing well,
we have to remember that we did a great regatta and keep going.”
The overall standings of Transpac (TP) 52 Series after seven races:
1. Bribón (ESP), 2, 5, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3 = 18 points
2. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 5, 1, 4, 5, 1, 1, Coastal Race 6 = 23 point
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 3, 2, 6, 6, 4, 7,
Coastal Race
1.5 = 29.5 points
4. Container (GER), 7, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2,
Coastal Race
9 = 32 points
5. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR), 4, 7, 7, 1, 5, 5,
Coastal Race
4.5 = 33.5 points
6. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 1, 3, 5, 3, 7, 6,
Coastal Race
10.5 = 35.5 points
7. RÁN (SUE), 6, 6, 2, 7, 6, 4,
Coastal Race
7.5 = 38.5 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 9 (DNC), 9 (DNC), 9 (DNC), 9 (DNC), 9 (DNC), 9 (DNC),
Coastal Race
13.5 (DNC) = 67.5 points
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