No straightforward sailing today, winds between 15 and 30 knots, 20 degree shifts, rainclouds, waves from many directions……

Let’s see what the best brains…. and instincts… of  todays sailing world make of this.

This is the finishing leg of Race 1:

13:56:50     
So at the final windward mark of Race 7 there was a big header, both leaders were neck and neck and stalled out as they were forced to roll into a tack one boat length from the mark. Quantum with Morgan Larson and Terry Hutchinson doing the business got away best and left the spreader mark with alead of 6 seconds, 2nd was USA 17, 3rd Artemis at +14 secs, 4th Platoon at +25 secs, 5 th Cristabella at +33 secs and 6th Desafio + 46 secs, 7th Rusal wsith Chris Larson calling the tactics this regatta, 8th Mean Machine.

14:00:44     
Big gust coming down from the City now and Mean Machine were first to gybe to get it first with Cristabella, USA 17 gybed a short one and lost initially, will be a fascinating finish, nothing for certain at this stage.     

14:04:51    
Quantum holding on through this squall, Artemis are going to get second. Very very close, with Quantum just getting it on the line after luffing momentarily to hold up Artemis, Cristabella get third after hooking into the squall first, USA 17 get fourth, Platoon, Desafio.  

And Race 2:

15:37:38     
At the finish it is USA 17, Quantum +8 seconds behind, great recovery after a bad start in very testing conditions, very good boat handling in the big breeze and good tactical choices in the shifty, very gusty conditions, Bribon 3rd at +28 seconds, Platoon 4th at +40 seconds, Artemis 5h and Audi Q8 6th. A very breezy race in the end, spectacular downwinds, especially that one and a good call from the race committee to go for the longer course for the second race. So with Artemis in 5th that time, more breathing space for USA 17 going in to the final day.

You have to say that Marseille really has delivered some special conditions and is a real world class sailing venue. It is a while on this Circuit since we have reached the penultimate day with 8 races completed, and a fighting chance of getting to 10 races.
Bravo le Mistral!

Race 7 in Marseille
© Th.Martinez/AUDI MEDCUP