Audi MedCup stage five - Carthagena, Spain, next week

The now accepted regatta format for each of the Audi MedCup Regattas will be used in Carthagena when 14 TP52s will line up for the penultimate event in the 2008 Circuit. Carthagena, a new venue for international yachting competition, will host the fleet on its historic waterfront, just minutes walk from one of Europe’s finest Roman Amphitheatres. Sailing conditions and issues of local knowedge are both unknown factors in this exciting new regatta venue, something that adds spice and uncertainty to the event, making sure the best team on the day will win.

On the sporting side, at the front of the fleet after four events is the American yacht Quantum Racing. Skipper Terry Hutchinson will be anticipating another competitive regatta, his Botin/Carkeek-designed yacht having already won two events this year and is definitely the yacht to beat. The closest to rival Quantum Racing is last year’s champion Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis exactly 30-points adrift. Both of these teams are loaded down with match racing experts and at some stage between now and the endof the season both pretenders to the 2008 Audi MedCup will need to change their tactics to protect their rankings, from one of sailing their own individual race to one of staying close to their closest overall rival.

Pedro Mendonca’s Portuguese yacht Bigamist will be making its 2008 debut with Alfonso Domingos, the Portuguese Olympic sailor, in control. Domingos will still be sufering from jetlag as he will have just returned from Qingdao in China following the Olympic Regatta in which he competed in the Star Class.

On Monday 25th August the fleet will race a practice race in which a member of the media wil embark on each boat, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday will see as many as three windward leeward inshore races sailed each day, whilst on the Thursday a double points scoring coastal race of up to 50 nautical miles in length will be held.

Teams are sailing for the Region of Murcia Trophy next week and for the overall 2008 Circuit prize the Audi MedCup.