Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre Day 2 - New leader in IRC

7:19 PM Tue 2 Aug 2011 GMT

'Bribon - IRC1 - Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre 2011' Pedro Martinez/Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre Click Here to view large photo

Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre's second day has now come to a close in Palma. The day has delivered some unusual conditions as well as a new leader in the IRC division, Brib?n.

Differences in wind pressure between the inner and the outer race areas and strong shifts have marked the second day of races of the 30th Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre. Exigent conditions for the 117 helmsmen of the seven fleets of this 2011 edition, and for the race committee which had to wait between half and one hour for the breeze to settle enough to race in all four race areas. While in race area Alpha, in front of the airport, N-NWly was the predominant direction, the Bravo and Charlie areas enjoyed a SWly breeze, known as Xaloc in the local argot. Neither of the breezes built above the 11 knots today.

Day two was a good day for Jos? Cus?'s Brib?n, whose two bullets set them in second after day two. The first race for the IRC A fleet started in a NWly breeze which soon shifted to right reaching the 150, thus matching the prediction, and finally established at the 135. This favored Brib?n, which went to the left after a good start at the pin end to leeward of the fleet, and Aifos steered by HRH Princess Cristina, which chose the same side.

The white Audi MedCup Circuit TP52 controlled the race from beginning to end, and Aifos managed third. Leader in the scoreboard after day one Container could only finish eighth in this first race, but got even for it with a second in the second race, right behind Brib?n, which signed her second win of the day. That gives Araujo and his crew a lead of five clear points upon Container which is second, followed by HRH Felipe of Borb?n steered Hispano's five-three. In IRC B, Earlybird remains leader after four bullets in two days.

Container - Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre 2011 - Pedro Martinez/Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre Click Here to view large photo

The debut of the Melges 32 class met the expectations and delivered tight, even and exigent racing in real time. American Argos signed the class first partial victory in the Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre, with two times America's Cup champion Cameron Appleton onboard. Second was Melges 32 world champion B-Lin Sailing.com of Luca Lalli and Lorenzo Bressani. British Dawn Raid of Olympic Andy Beadworth was third.

Argo - Melges32 - Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre 2011 - Pedro Martinez/Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre Click Here to view large photo

The J-80 fleet, the other one design class making its debut in the Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre, registered no changes. Nextel signed a second in the first race, and first was Maqueche from Cantabria, the province with the largest J-80 fleet in Spain. The second race was run in very shifty winds which forced two general recalls, and start was given with a black flag. Nextel was fourth after moving up several positions, and remains leader, followed by Javier Aguado's Crocs and Van der Ploeg is third.

The X-35 class was to compete in the Charlie race area, where conditions were as tricky, and caused several changes in the classification which sees Hotelplan climb to the top of the scoreboard.

RI1 delivered less surprises and Rats on Fire with Raico Tabares remains first after today's 1-4, thus opening a 12 points gap upon second classified Cuadernos Rubio. In RI 2 Telef?nica ex-Volvo Ocean Race CEO Pedro Campos Movistar beat her main contendent Olympic Gustavo Mart?nez Doreste's Power Plate, and the two boats are now first and second respectively, with a four points advantage for the Galicia born Campos.

Tomorrow a double scoring coastal race of around 30 miles awaits the two compensated time fleets of the Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre (IRC and RI). X-35 and Melges 32 will race in front of Ca'n Pastilla, whereas the J-80's stay at area Alpha, in front of the airport.