A
return to Cagliari, this time in the height of summer, and light
sea-breezes might have been expected of the capital of Sardinia, but for
the Region of Sardinia Trophy, a brisk Mistral blew on most days.

Underlining
just how open and how close racing is this season, Jochen Schuemann,
Seb Col and the Franco-German crew of Audi Sailing Team powered
byAll4One became the third team to win a Trophy Regatta when they
collected the Region of Sardinia Trophy. Their performance included
winning the 25 miles coastal race and contrasted sharply with results in
Cascais and Marseille where they finished seventh both times.

They
lead a 1-2 in the stronger breezes and flat water for the new powerful
Audi backed twin sisters which were built on opposite sides of the
globe.

Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One was built in
Sydney, Australia whilst second placed Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, which
races under the burgee of Sardinia’s Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, finished
nine points behind in second, also their best regatta finish of the
season.

In the 40 Series fleet there was still no stopping
Spain’s Iberdrola Sailing Team. They won their third regatta in a row
with a scoreline which included five wins from seven races. But, once
again that run of wins conceals the fact that there were not always
ahead on the water and were often made to work for their race wins.

The
Soto 40’s welcomed a local team, following the precedent set for each
regatta this season, with Roberto Pardini (ITA) bringing together a crew
which was almost entirely from Cagliari. A Melges 32 owner who competes
on the international Circuit, Pardini was joined by Ignazio Diaz, and
Mario Floris on the mainsail, trimmers Alesandro Gemini and Jacopo Trudu
as trimmers, Lorenzo Trimini as tactician, Francesco Orrù as bowman,
Luca Segneri as Pitman and Nello Stinca on the mast and foredeck.

For
the local crew, many of whom have been to Region of Sardinia Trophy
regattas as spectators over the last three years, their happiness was
completed when they won the third race of the series.

An
audacious starting strategy paid off as they shepherded the pack above
the committee boat layline before jumping out to an early lead which
they managed to hold on to until the finish line.

While the red
and blue Audi twins Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One and Audi
Azzurra Sailing Team came good in Sardinia conversely there were some
tough moments for the winners of the first two Trophy regattas of the
season. Quantum Racing finished fifth in Sardinia.

While the
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, who – as Matador – won the regatta last year,
finished with a remarkable flourish – 2.3,2,1 over the last four races
including a good third in the coastal race- Quantum Racing had a
disappointing end to the regatta when they broke their starboard running
backstay on the start line for the penultimate race, and then slumped
to a seventh in the final race.

Until Sardinia Markus Wieser
and the crew of Container were the very essence of consistency, but the
Marseille Trophy winners finished fourth as Bribon took their first
podium of the season with an assured performance across the wind range.

Image:52 Series Day 5 – Region of Sardinia Trophy, 24 07 2011 © Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup.

The Audi MedCup Circuit consists of five regattas over the course of
five months in four different countries. They are all sailed in Southern
European waters, one in the Atlantic followed by four in the
Mediterranean. The next race is Cartegena starting on the 23rd August. For more information visit: www.medcup.org