TP52 Class Announces 2012 Racing Circuit

KEY WEST, FL—Following a series of meetings held during Quantum Key West Race Week, members of the TP52 class are pleased to announce its plans for grand prix racing in 2012 and beyond.

Rob Weiland, TP52 Class Manager, says the class is forming a management group owned and controlled by members that will be responsible for event management, event marketing, sponsor and media coordination as well as recruiting new teams to join 52 racing.

“There is strong support and enthusiasm for this structure, not only among owners, but also potential sponsors who have been part of the discussions. TP52 racing will continue in 2012 and beyond at the same high-caliber level as in previous years,” says Weiland. “With class ownership and control, we expect to establish a strong, stable racing program that will continue to expand and excel.”

This year, the class will be racing in a circuit with consistent race management including on-the-water umpiring. The circuit winner will be the best-performing boat in five qualifying events. The regatta schedule will include:

- Palma Vela, Palma, April 18 – 22 (tune up event)
- Trofeo Conde de Godo, Barcelona, May 23 - 27
- Sardinia Cup, Porto Cervo, June 11 - 17
- Royal Cup, Palma, July 10 - 14
- Copa del Rey, Palma, July 16-21 (does not count toward trophy)
- France Cup or One Ton Cup, TBD in France, September 18 – 22
- Valencia Cup, Valencia, October 9-13

Weiland says IRC 52 and Soto 40 teams are invited to join in the racing. “We’d like to increase the participation, which not only makes for more exciting competition, but will also provide a chance to race for the Sardinia Cup, a team event with two-boat teams consisting of a 52 and a Soto 40.

For all events except the Copa del Rey, the 52s—whether a TP52 or IRC52—will race boat-for-boat. “The  IRC52s will have to be within a TCC limit for this,” says Weiland. “That limit is set slightly above the TCC that a TP52 has in order to accommodate features such as carbon rigging, which under IRC carry a rating ‘penalty’.

“Just as we are experiencing at Quantum Key West Race Week, this will provide close and exciting racing,” adds Weiland. “Level rating, as such, is not a novelty, but the mix of level raters and box rule 52s is unique. For sure there is a lot to learn; we will start with an open mind and very few limits.”

At Copa del Rey, Weiland says the 52s will race under IRC. “That suits the event organization better and maximizes the number of boats on the start line. We hope to see well over ten teams competing in Palma.”

Weiland says the class will begin working with the clubs involved in the 2012 program immediately, while the organizational details are finalized for the management group. The 2013 calendar will be announced no later than August 2012. Plans for next year tentatively call for a return to the Americas early in the season.

Swiss join the Audi MedCup

© Marazzi Sailing Team

[source: Audi MedCup]

Swiss Olympic Star sailor Flavio Marazzi and Germany’s four times Olympic medallist Jochen Schuemann will combine forces under the Marazzi Sailing colours to become the 13th entry on this season’s 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit.

Star campaigner Marazzi, who finished fifth in 2008 in Qingdao and fourth in Athens and is looking ahead to 2012 the Olympic regatta at Weymouth and Portland, England has formed the Audi MedCup Circuit’s first Swiss team, sailing under the flag of the Gstaad Yacht Club, forming the biggest Swiss sailing project since America’s Cup winning Alinghi.

Marazzi will skipper and helm the TP52, which finished fourth overall last season as Geneva based Swedish businessman Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis. The team, under the guidance of Schuemann and Finn Olympic bronze medallist John Cutler, includes well known Swiss sail trimmer Christian “Blumi” Scherrer, an America’s Cup winner with Alnghi in Auckland, and Marazzi’s Star crew Enrico de Maria.

Since taking on the boat the team have managed to complete six days of intensive training off Valencia prior to final training before the first Audi MedCup Circuit event, the City of Alicante Trophy regatta starts next week.

Jochen Schuemann, who won the America's Cup twice with Alinghi, said: “During the last couple of months we have worked very hard to get this young and ambitious project under way. I’m very happy to help Flavio Marazzi to establish a new Pro Team and to share my experience in sailing and in managing a sailing team. MARAZZISAILING combines the experience and professionalism of established America's Cup sailors with the “freshness” of Olympic talents. I’m very much looking forward to participating again in the Champion’s League of Sailing.”

Private individuals are backing this new Swiss TP52 project from the Gstaad Yacht Club. The team’s ambitious objective is to generate further interest and backing from this first event with a top finishing place as the catalyst to secure the future participation of the highly motivated Swiss team through additional partners and sponsors.

Flavio Marazzi commented: “I’m very proud to sail the Audi MedCup together with Sailing Legends like Jochen Schümann and John Cutler. For me the MarazziSailing TP52 Project is an important step on my way to the Olympic Games 2012. As a Star boat sailor sailing within a team of 14 people is a real new challenge and I am convinced that our team will show a good performance in Alicante already.”

RIGHT TO PLAY is the social partner of the MarazziSailing team. It is an international humanitarian organisation, which uses games and sports programmes around the world to help children suffering from war, poverty and illnesses, in order to promote their health and education and to improve their quality of life in a sustainable way.

Flavio Marazzi, who has children, has been an ambassador of RIGHT TO PLAY for several years.

7 More Sleeps

Only seven more sleeps until the first regatta of the 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit in Alicante , Spain.

© Th Martinez/AUDI MEDCUP. Spain, Alicante. 13/5/08 Day 1 Race 1


© Th Martinez/AUDI MEDCUP.

Audi MedCup

Audi MedCup - A full Quantum Quota: Quantum Racing win Portugal Trophy.

Crew of "QUANTUM RACING" (USA) , celebrating overall victory of Audi MedCup 2008.© Th.Martinez/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão. 20/09/08.

[Source: Event Media]
Terry Hutchinson and the crew of Quantum Racing today added the Portugal Trophy to the regatta wins in Mallorca and Sardinia which contributed to their overall victory in the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008.

After winning the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008 title with a day to spare, Quantum Racing added victory in the Trophy of Portugal to cap their triumphant five months long season over which they won three of the six Audi MedCup Circuit regattas.

Steered by skipper Terry Hutchinson (USA), who started putting the winning campaign together just less than one year ago and has raced on the circuit over each of the three previous years, Quantum Racing won in Cagliari on Sardinia in Italy, at the Breitling Regatta on Mallorca, Spain and now in Portimao on Portugal’s Algarve coast.

As well as their three regatta wins Quantum Racing finished third at the first regatta of the season in Alicante. Fifth in Marseille in June was acall to raise their game, according to Hutchinson, and their fourth place last month in Cartagena, Murcia, Spain was enough to keep them firmly on course for the championship title they clinched yesterday.

A first and a fourth placed today for Quantum Racing pushed them to the top of the overall Portugal Trophy standings, winning by four points from Matador (ARG) who were let down by a disappointing 11th in the first race. Read Full Story

Audi MedCup - Job Done. Quantum Won.

Quantum in Race 6 of the Audi MedCup in Portimão© Th.Martinez/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão. 19/09/08. Race 6

[Source: Event Media]
The Quantum Racing crew came ashore today at the Marina of Portimao having secured the overall Audi MedCup Circuit 2008 title.

And, finally pure simple arithmetic took over from Quantum theory. No more number crunching. No more evangelising on the simple Quantum quest for consistency through a long, gruelling season.

Terry Hutchinson and the crew of the American boat Quantum Racing won the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008 with a day to spare in Portimao, Portugal when only one race could be completed on the penultimate day of the Portugal Trophy Regatta.

As the breeze fell away to force the abandonment of the second race today, Race 7, and then precluded any further competition it meant Quantum Racing had built a n unassaibale lead of 52.2 points over second placed Bribon with no more than three races possible Saturday for the 15 boat fleet. Read Full Story

Audi MedCup, Portugal - Day 3

[source: Event Media]
No wind, Coastal race cancelled in Portimao, Portugal.

Without leaving the dock in Marina Portimao Quantum Racing took a big step closer to the endgame, winning the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008, when the double points Coastal Race was cancelled due to the lack of wind. Audi MedCup

El Desafío leads the Portugal Trophy

First top mark.© Th.Martinez/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão. 17/09/08. Race5

El Desafío (ESP)© Ian Roman/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão. 17/09/08. Race 4

MATADOR (ARG)© Th.Martinez/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão. 17/09/08. Race4

[source: Event Media]
Quantum Racing saw their Circuit lead eroded slightly while Matador won one race and finished second to take over third place on the overall Audi MedCup Circuit standings, while El Desafío leads the Portugal Trophy.

Leaving the Portimao race course having dropped six points off their Circuit lead it was hardly crisis time for Quantum Racing when they finished 10th in Race 6 of the Portugal Trophy Regatta - only their third double points score of 50 races so far of the Audi MedCup season - but the American boat did cede the regatta lead to Paul Cayard and the Spanish America’s Cup team on the green hulled El Desafio.

In light and shifty winds, between five and eight knots, Desafio posted a seventh and a second place to lead the second placed Argentinian boat Matador by a single point on the Portugal Trophy regatta leaderboard.

Alberto Roemmers’ Matador crew not only had the best day in the fifteen boat fleet, winning the first race and finishing second to Platoon powered by Team Germany in the second contest, but they overtook Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis, to now hold third place on the overall Audi MedCup Circuit standings going in to Thursday’s crucial double points coastal race. Read on…

Portugal Trophy Standings after five races
Placing, Boat Name, Nationality, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, Total
1 El Desafío ESP (10,2,3,7,3, 25)
2 Matador ESP (8,5,10,1,2, 26)
3 Quantum Racing USA (4,8,1,6,10, 29)
4 Platoon poweredby Team Germany GER (11,10,8,2,1, 32)
5 Synergy RUS (9,1,4,14,5, 33)
6 Bribón ESP (1,11,12,5,4, 33)
7 Audi Q8 ITA (2,9,2,15,4, 34)
8 CXG Corporación Caixa Galicia ESP (7,3,9,3,13,35)

9 Mutua Madrileña ESP (12,4,5,8,9, 38)
10 Artemis SWE (5,7,13,11,8, 44)

Audi MedCup, Portugal - Day 1

The Fleet unde Spinnaker© Ian Roman/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão.

16/09/08. Race 1

Quantum Racing in the first Race in PORTUGAL© Ian Roman/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão.

16/09/08. Race 1

Tau Ceramica-Andalucia and Audi Q8© Ian Roman/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão.

16/09/08. Race 1

Two surprises on the podium. Quantum Racing stock is still rising.

[source: Event Media]
The American boat Quantum Racing moved 11 points closer to winning the Audi MedCup Circuit today as Audi Q8 and Synergy had their best set of races of the season so far, Audi Q8 lie second on the same points as regatta leaders Quantum Racing.

After the first three races of the Portugal Trophy off Portimao, the final regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit, there may be a pair of new names making a late season challenge, lying in second and third, but leading the regatta it is the American boat Quantum Racing whose stock is still rising as they extend their overall hold on the overall title to more than 50 points with just four days left of the 2008 season’s competition.

As the Russian crew on Synergy became the 12th different team to take a winning gun on the Circuit this season, triumphing in Race 2 in fine style, so too Riccardo Simoneschi’s Audi Sailing Team powered by Q8 (ITA) came good with their best day yet, scoring a ninth then two second places to lie second sharing the same overall points as Quantum Racing. And if Synergy had not let slip their third place which they held until the final 400 metres of the last race of the day, they too would have been on 13 points. Read on…

Portugal Trophy Standings after three races:

Place, Boat name, Nationality, R1 R2 R3, Points

1. Quantum USA (4,8,1) 13

2. Audi Q8 ITA(2,9,2) 13

3. Synergy RUS (9,1,4) 14

4. El Desafio ESP (10,2,3) 15

5. CXG Corporación Caixa Galicia ESP (7,3,9) 19

6. Mutua Madrileña ESP (12,4,5) 21

7. Tau Andalucía ESP(3,14,6) 238. Matador ARG (8,5,10) 23

9. Bribón ESP (1,11,12) 24

10. Artemis SUE (5,7,13) 25

Audi MedCup Portugal Trophy starts today

Audi TP52 Powered by Q8 heads downwind© Ian Roman/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão. 15/09/08. Practice Race

The TP52 fleet head downwind© Ian Roman/AUDI MEDCUP. Portugal, Portimão. 15/09/08. Practice Race

After an interesting, exacting and even-sided practice race in perfect light wind conditions and warm sunshine on the Algarves Atlantic waters off Portimao, Portugal the stage is set for the final regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit, the Portugal Trophy regatta. Audi MedCup

Portugal Trophy, Practice race.
1. Audi Q8, ITA
2.El Desafío, ESP, + 35 seconds
3. Cristabella, GBR, +1 min 02 sec
4. Bribón, ESP, + 1 min 20 sec
5. Artemis, SWE, + 1 min 22 sec

Audi Med Cup Round 4

Without a doubt the best sailing on the planet at the moment is in the Audi MedCup TP52 class. Here is some video of the latest round in Palma, Spain.

Video in a new window

The new "Anonimo Q8"

The new "Anonimo Q8" hits the water in NZ. Built by Hakes Marine, she sure is a fine vessel.




Check out the teams website. http://www.audiq8.it/home-page.html

Breitling MedCup - Round 2 Caixa Galicia Win!

CxG CORPORACIÓN CAIXAGALICIA with Roberto Bermudez de Castro steering and John Kostecki calling tactics on the new Botin and Carkeek design has won its first TP52 regatta finishing on 24 points well clear of second placed Artemis on 34 points. Artemis's scorecard featured 3 firsts and 2 seconds, although a 13th position in the opening race probably hurt their final result. Even so Russell Coutts and the crew should be proud. In third place on 59 points was Siemens with Alinghi strategist Murray Jones calling the shots.

Looking at the wide spread in finish points there is still some improvement to be made by all boats. A very good one design fleet would have a spread of about 2 - 4 points between boats.

The next regatta in the Breitling MedCup will be the Copa del Rey starting on July 30.

Photos: Thierry Martinez (http://www.thmartinez.com/)

Breitling Medcup Round 2 - Day 2

Vicente Tirado's Caixa Galicia with John Kostecki calling tactics moved 14 points clear on the second day of the Regata Breitling-Illes Balears. In second place is Artemis with Russell Coutts calling tactics, scoring a second and first in the two races of the day. Artemis has moved up from fourth place overall, 5 point clear of Peter de Ridder's Valle Romano Mean Machine in third spot.

Breitling Medcup TP52 Circuit

Regata Breitling Results

Photos: Thierry Martinez (http://www.thmartinez.com/)

Breitling MEDCUP Round 2

The Breitling Regatta being second event in the TP52 circuit will start on Wednesday July 18 in Puerto Portals only 7 kilometres from Palma. 24 boats are entered for the regatta which will no doubt feature a plethora of America´s Cup sailors now free of their duties.

Regatta Breitling site

Breitling Medcup TP52 Circuit

Regatta Breitling Results