Their two well won victories sandwich a fifth place which proved an equal measure of their tenacity and resolution, coming back from last place through the first half of the race. Matador’s consistency keeps them five points clear of Synergy going into tomorrow’s coastal race which carries a 1.5 points multiplier.

Audi MedCup Circuit champions Emirates Team New Zealand followed a similar pattern to their opening day, starting badly with a tenth, but fighting back to a second and third to lie third on the overall regatta standings.

If on Tuesday it had offered something of a one sided race track, Cagliari’s Bay of Angels may have had a devil’s influence at times today because the breeze pattern altered from race to race as the split winds on either side of the course offered big opportunities for gains and losses, especially on the downwind legs.

Matador won the first race which was contested in near perfect sea breeze conditions of nine to ten knots. Quantum Racing lead through the early stages of the race but chose to gybe set at the final windward mark while Vasco Vascotto and Francesco Bruni conspired to go right down the run to gain more than half a minute, stealing across the finish ahead of the 2008 Audi MedCup champions.

In the second race it was Synergy’s tactician Rod Dawson (NZL) who read the first beat best. They flipped right early and were able to take command as the breeze lifted progressively, ensuring they lead all the way around ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand. Approaching half way up the first beat Matador fouled Quantum Racing, tacking too close to them, and had to take a penalty. That dropped them to round the windward mark as tail enders. They made little impression on the run, but their never say die attitude and inspired downwind sailing saw the world champions restore themselves to a useful fifth.

With dark clouds covering the race area and an oppressive, humid air replacing the early sunshine, the final race of the day was marred by a first beat collision between Audi A1 powered by All4ONE and Bribon (see picture). The Franco-German team lost control in the final, painful seconds as the tried to duck the Spanish boat and struck them hard one third of the way from the back of their port topsides. Both boats had to retire and Bribon will not be able to take any further part in the regatta.

Ironically the iconic Spanish crew suffered a similar sad fate in the last regatta of the MedCup in 2006 in Ibiza. The only other big collisions of recent years on the Circuit was at a messy top mark approach in Marseille in 2007, but both times these incidents were as the fleet converged, nearing the windward mark.

Matador lead the race from the first turning mark and at one stage were over 200 metres ahead of second placed TeamOrigin (GBR), while Emirates Team New Zealand took third.

Results, Day Two:

1. Matador (ARG), 2+8+2+1+5+1= 19 points
2. Synergy (RUS), 6+5+3+4+1+5= 24
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 8+2+1+10+2+3= 26
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 7+4+4+8+4+2= 29
5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 5+1+5+6+3+11(DNF)= 31
6. Quantum Racing (USA), 9+3+7+2+6+4= 31
7. Bribón (ESP), 1+9+8+3+8+11(DNF)= 40
8. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+10+5+9+8= 41
9. Cristabella (GBR), 4+10+6+9+7+6= 42
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 10+7+9+7+10+7= 50

For more, visit medcup.org