So it is Quantum who win their first regatta of the Audi MedCup season on 37 points to Mean Machine in second on 39 points with Artemis third on 45 points. And on the Circuit Quantum now lead by 6.2 points on a total of 129 points, to Bribon's 135.2, Artemis are third on 137. So consistency across those final three races was vital. Artemis's 3,1,1 to Bribon's 6,3,7 tells the story of their steady ascent up the Circuit leaderboard, while that starting line infringement in the second race probably cost Mutua Madrilena a podium place at this regatta. It's the first time this season we have got ten races in to complete the regatta schedule, something that was only achieved last year in Hyeres and Palma.
14:12:49
Not far to go now it is Artemis first, Mutua Madrilena second at 19 sec, third is Mean Machine who were just five seconds behind them, then Quantum get fourth, Matador fifth, Bribon sixth, Caixa seventh, Platoon eighth, Cristabella ninth, Rusal, so Quantum win their first 2008 Audi MedCup regatta by two points ahead of Mean Machine who fought till the end.
14:04:16
Last run of the Audi Region of Sardinia Trophy and there is everything to play for, Mean Machine now need to get through Mutua Madrilena to win the regatta, which seems a tough task as they are 150m in front with six minutes to sail. On tie break it would be Quantum if both end up on the same points. Phew!
14:00:44
At the spreader mark we have 1 Artemis, 2 Mutua Madrilena 3 Mean Machine, 4 Matador, 5 Desafio, 6 Quantum so they gain that place and are equal on points with Mean Machine, 7 Bribon, 8 Caixa Galicia, 9 Platoon, 10 Audi Q8.
13:59:35
Quantum and Mean Machine look a little high of the port tack layline but going plenty quick.
13:56:54
Half way up the beat and Bribon have gone to the extreme right, to the Cagliari shore, while Quantum have tracked Mean Machine up the left, Bribon have just tacked out on to starboard so in a few minutes we'll see if Quantum can gain that one place they need to win the regatta, as things stood at the leeward mark.
13:47:44
Round the leeward mark it is Quantum in seventh to Mean Machine in third and that means Mean Machine lead the regatta for the moment by one point. Desafio just got inside Quantum at the leeward mark, Artemis lead by 25 seconds from Mutua Madrilena, third is Mean Machine, fourth Matador, fifth Desafio, sixth Bribon, seventh Quantum, but Bribon and Quantum go to different marks, Quantum on left, Bribon on right. Exciting to the end.
13:38:59
So Mean Machine need to take Mutua Madrilena to even the points score at at the moment.
13:34:41
And at the WW1 mark it is Artemis ahead of Mutua Madrilena by 17 secs, Mean Machine in third at +24 secs, fourth is Matador at +35 secs, fifth is Quantum at +39 secs, sixth is EL Deasafio, seventh Platoon who shoot the mark to squueze inside eighth placed Bribon. That big drag right working for Artemis, perhaps as much because they sailed in clear air and did fewer tacks.
13:28:40
Artemis and Mutua Madrilena are heading for a cross from either extreme with the Swedish boat tacking under Mutua's line but could have crossed, Bribon are a little deep in the pack at the moment. Mean Machine are now to windward of Quantum who are in a sandwich between Platoon to leeward and Mutua Madrilena. Artemis on a good lay line.
13:24:33
And Mutua Madrilena tack and are forced under Matador where they try to work on a lee bow position and are starting to make it stick. Platoon tack across over and end up with Quantum on their lee bow, Mutua looking good now.
13:21:46
So from the left at the moment it's Mutua Madrilena who could not cross Matador above them, Mean Machine in turn just about holding the Argentine boat while Quantum just about have control of this left pack...breeze 12-13 knots. Artemis way to the right.
13:12:07
Race 10, the final showdown, gets away with a clean start. At the boat Rusal made a sudden dip for pace and shot over Artemis who were then forced to tack to the right and they have made a big split. Mean Machine are one third up from the pin with Valars below them and CXG above them while more central but showing half a bow is Quantum.
13:07:51
And the Audi MedCup Circuit standings show Quantum on 125 points, leading by 3.2 points ahead of Bribon on 128.2pts, third is Artemis on 136pts.
Race 10 will have a windward leg of 2.2 miles, and that 12-14 knot breeze is still holding at 335 degrees. We are heading into the five minutes count down. Artemis proved it is no longer about the pin end and the hard left, much more about a good lane and the first shift. Doors to automatic and cross check...
13:00:02
Scores after Race 9 then show 1 Quantum on 33pts, 2 Mean Machine on 36 points, 3 Artemis 44pts, 4 Mutua Madrilena 47pts, 5 Bribon 48pts. So a close finish still and with that eight points gap with there be any duelling between the top two? One thing is that the goal of the overall season prize and no discards does tend to keep everyone on the straight and narrow. But a ten race series certainly endorses Sardinia's capital city as offering prime racing arena, shortages of interested spectator boats out here today, and taxis in the city not withstanding!
12:46:41
Artemis steal it on the last run, beating Mean Machine to the line by three seconds, Bribon get third at +18secs, Matador fourth, CXG fifth, Quantum sixth, Platoon seventh, these are unofficial placings...that leaves Quantum on 33pts, second is Mean Machine on 36pts, third is now Artemis on 44pts, by our very provisional amateur hour arithemetic....costly error at the start for Mutua Madrilena and Artemis neatly consistent, there are few better than John Kostecki when it is shifty. They got a little further left than Mean Machine on the run, closer to where the puffs were spreading down from, Mean Machine gybed a fraction too late and too quickly to get back to Artemis on the final third of the run.
12:39:59
This is actually proving a great day's sport. It is shifty and puffy, with gusts to use and with an average windspeed of about 13-15 knots is it quick and exciting enough. I am pretty sure we have never managed three races on the final day before.
12:36:06
At second spreader mark where they hoist kites for the last time this race, it's Mean Machine 20 secs up on Artemis, CXG in third +50 secs, fourth is Bribon just getting through Quantum at the windward mark, Quantum round fifth +1.13 behind Mean Machine, 6th is Matador, 7th Platoon and 8th Mutua Madrilena. If they finish like this the gap between Mean Machine and Quantum will be back to three points and Artemis will take over third spot.
12:13:37
Mean Machine get to the leeward gate first choosing the left hand gate with Artemis second round on the right hand gate, in third CxG keep Quantum behind, just, Bribon are fifth, Platoon sixth and Mutua Madrilena making a good recovery at the back of the main pack but alongside Cristabella and Valars.
12:07:43
That start line infringement cost Mutua Madrilena dearly as they go round the windward mark in 13th place, Audi Q8 took a penalty and Platoon have protest flag showing..small separation downwind with Artemis looking like a small gain to the left of Mean Machine, Artemis have been quick downwind in these conditions. CXG hanging in on this run nicely in third ahead of Quantum.
12:01:34
At windward mark one it is Mean Machine first at the WW1 mark, 2 is Aretmis, 3 CXG, 4 Quantum, 5 Bribon, 6 Audi Q8, 7 Platoon, 8 Matadorf, 9 Desafio. Mean Machine nailed the port tack layline perfectly which made the difference and allowed them to get around while Artemis ahad a short final hitch to make, clearly a little shifty by the mark.
11:56:02
Three mins to mark and looks like Artemis are in control at the moment, Quantum still in the box seats too, they just need to stay out of trouble and not do anything rash.
11:54:42
And this time the right of middle seems a little better but more shifty, Quantum was best of the left but ducked first Mean Machine, was clear astern of Artemis and ducked CXG, so could be Artemis at WW1...
11:48:03
So race 9 gets away, Quantum on the pin with El Desafio beside them, Quantum just emerging bow forward. Mutua Madrilena had to do a penalty turn, Platoon flat footed off the pin and slow, Artemis good at two boats down from the committee boat, right side of the line, Bribon to leeward of them and about level, Matador and Mean Machine more mid line . Wind direction still 335 degrees, leg length 2.2 miles.
11:41:59
We are in the sequence for Race 9 now, breeze is a little bit lighter at 12 knots and we think it will be a little shiftier, no cloud build up and it is still very clear overhead, one minute to go, course 1.
11:31:46
So the standings for the regatta see Quantum leading by seven points from Mean Machine on 34 points, Mutua Madrilena on 39 points, and fourth Artemis, now, on 43 points, so the Swedish reigning champions steal fourth for Bribon who are now fifth on 45 points. AP flag is up just now.
11:16:03
A good win for Quantum then, responding well under pressure, Mutua Madrilena stole second with that big left side call on the last run, Artemis we think just got third from Mean Machine on the line, fifth was Desafio, disappointing again after being so good early on, Bribon in sixth, Cristabella seventh after a bad start, eighth is respactable for Rusal Synergy. That moves Quantum to a seven points lead over their main regatta rival Mean Machine, while second for Mutua Madrilena gives their third a little more insulation from Bribon. Interesting because in the end it was not all about the one side, but there are clearly some shifts at the top of the bay, and gains to be had as the breeze works off the left side downwind, off the City of Cagliari shore. The breeze is down a bit since the start of Race 8, now 12-13 knots, but ample to get Race 9 away, the first time we have had nine races this season.
11:06:58
In fact Quantum have Mean Machine on their tail, three boat lengths behind, while Vasco Vascotto and the Mutua Madrilena have gone most of the way to the starboard tack layline for the finish line.
11:03:48
And heading to the finish it is going to be Quantum with their fourth win of the regatta, Desafio in second but they have Mutua Madrilena out to their left and challenging. An interesting finish with a bearing on t1he battle for second and third at this regatta.
10:57:25
And at the windward mark it is Artemis and Quantum alongside each other exactly on the do leg but the Amway logo lite of Quantum is first to break again, Artemis again seem to have problem and may have to take a penalty, so it is Desafio second Mutua Madrilena third, Bribon, Artemis , Mean Machine, Audi Q8, Cristabella, Platoon.
10:54:56
In truth the right has paid a little and Mean Machine were happy to work back to the right, Quantum going back to keep a loose cover on Desafio and Artemis. We are well up to the top of the Bay, windward mark just less than a mile from the flat shore which has a small forest of wind turbines...40 secs to the final turn.
10:47:34
And Quantum have taken Mean Machine to the right side of the course this time leaving Artemis and co to the extreme left, will be interesting to see if they lose much but there is certainly no difference in pressure. Valars have retired with mainsail trouble.
10:47:18
At the first leeward mark it was still Quantum but not by very much at all. They were a little slow and downwind on their approach to the left mark while Desafio arrived at the right with more speed. They were abourt 12 secs apart, third round was Artemis on the left mark, fourth Mutua Madrilena on the right, fifth Mean Machine on the left, swixth Bribon, seventh CXG, 8th Audi Q8, but owning the left side is the decider on these beats, so will be fascinating to see Quantum v Desafio, and Artemis are a threat as they proved on yesterday's second beat. Quantum is trying to control Mean Machine but that is leaving the door open for Artemis. Quantum's aim is to keep their nearest leadership threat, Mean Machine, behind.
10:35:24
Over half way down the run Desafio and Mutua Madrilena stayed further to the left, that is the Cagliari city side, while Quantum was happy to stay right and protect from Artemis who were going quick to windward along with CXG a little further back. Quantum gybed back to Desafio's line and seemed to be about the same distance ahead before gybing back again, Artemis held on longer before gybing at the same time as Mean Machine.
10:29:15
Leaving the spreader mark and two minutes down the run it is certainly Quantum leading by about 20 seconds ahead of Desafio, Mutua Madrilena third chose to gybe set at the mark and went left down the run, Mean Machine about fourth with Caixa Galicia, Bribon in sixth, Audi Q8 fighting alongside Artemis in seventh and eighth. Breeze is still constant 16-18 knots. Quantum looking good.
10:21:36
Two minutes to the windward mark and it is Quantum looking to be in control at the moment with Desafio to leeward slightly pacing them, Mutua Madrilena is astern and further left, inshore. Much the same as yesterday in terms of the left side lift, Mean Machine very much in the mix, too, just slightly to leeward of Quantum and Desafio.
10:14:34
So the start gets away on time, Race 8, in 20 knots of breeze. Quantum really wanted the pin and lined up very early two boats length ahead of the left side pack. Desafio had a good start again down this end of the line. Artemis started mid line and the whole fleet dragging left, Matador the best of the starters from the right, committee boat side.
