Quantum Racing Team added a further 11 points to their Circuit leading margin by virtue of their 4,8,1 today to lead by 52.8 points over Bribón, it was the Audi Q8 and Synergy crews who showed the most marked improvements. Audi Q8 have modified their keel bulb, and changed the afterguard to use double Olympic medallist Charlie McKee (USA) as tactician – who sailed with many of the core crew on the Luna Rossa America’s Cup programme – and he is backed up here by Thierry Peponnet (FRA) as strategist.

“The boat is going better after modification to the stability, and it is going in a good way for sure.” Said Peponnet, “And I find a good way to work with Charlie and it is a really nice way to sail. I think before there were problems of confidence and boat speed. If you don’t have confidence in the way you sail then that affects your tactics and the way you can do tactics compared to other boats. But for sure these changes have motivated everybody. I think the reaction of the crew has been great, and Charlie is doing a really good job there.”

Sergiy Pichugin (UKR), Helmsman of Synergy (RUS):
“ We realised everything today – we had some very good racing, the team were really focussed and there was great concentration, everything came together. Hard work, good preparation for this regatta and also before this regatta we have had quite a few good results but it has just not reflected in the overall points, today we can take the results and the points! We worked very hard as a team and now we look like a team, we just needed the time to come together and get the confidence in ourselves.”

Riccardo Simoneschi (ITA), Skipper-owner-helmsman of Audi TP52 powered by Q8
“ We finally have the boat set up in a proper way which gives us confidence and we are back to a better way of sailing. It is what we have been looking for and struggling over during the last few months. I think that we sailed well and basically now have the speed to hang on when we are in trouble and get through the pack and that does make a difference.”

Terry Hutchinson (USA), Helmsman-skipper of Quantum:
“ It was a really good day, our goal was to go out and average fifth so and we beat that so it was a great day. An incredibly mediocre start in the first race and Morgan (Larson), Mark (Mendelblatt) and Ian (Moore) did a good job in getting us back to a four.In the next race had a tangle with Bribón at the top mark. We are not 100% sure how that would have unfolded in the protest room but given our position in the event we considered it a prudent thing to do for us to do a penalty turn so we did and then won the last race. The middle race was awesome, we came out of the situation last and battled back to an eighth, and in some ways the fact that we beat Bribón in that race was a really strong testament to the team.”

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) 23
8. Matador ARG (8,5,10) 23
9. Bribón ESP (1,11,12) 24
10. Artemis SUE (5,7,13) 25

Complete results at: http://2008.medcup.org/results/venue.php?trophy=6

Audi MedCup Circuit 2008
Standings after 48 races in Alicante, Marseille, Cagliari, Mallorca. Cartagena and Portimao.
Place, Boat name, Nationality, points.
1. Quantum Racing USA 228
2. Bribón ESP 280,2
3. Artemis SWE 296
4. Matador ARG 310
5. Platoon by Team Germany GER 339
6. Mutua Madrileña ESP 346,4
7. El Desafío ESP 367
8. CxG Corporación Caixa Galicia ESP 423,6
9. Audi Q8 ITA 464
10. Mean Machine MON 521