Desafio wins GP42 Cup at Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre

'Desafio - QUEBRAMAR CUP Copa del Rey AUDI MAPFRE 2008' Nico Martinez &copy Click Here to view large photo

The tension was palpable from the morning hours, on the Real Club Nautico pontoons in Palma de Mallorca, where the QUEBRAMAR GP42 Cup crews were giving the finishing touches to their boats before the last date with the Copa del Rey.

The day was an important one: the Spaniards from Desafio and the Swiss/French on Near Miss were playing their very last cards to conquer the victory in the 27th edition in one of the most prestigious regattas in the Mediterranean and the leadership of the international circuit.

Up to yesterday they were separated by just one point in the provisional scoreboard and today's results was absolutely relevant to decide who should jump on the higher step of the podium.

The two crews docked out before all the others and got to the Bravo race area, where all had to wait for a while before hearing the starting signal of the event's eleventh and last race.

The waiting wasn't in vain, though, because a little later than 14 hours a good breeze built up on the bay of Palma, a 10/12 knots 'Garb?'. As expected the Committte showed clearly their intention to have only one race today, opting for a 2,3 mile long leg, the longest of the series.

Just from the start everyone understood that it was fleet racing only for five boats. For Desafio and Near Miss, for helmsmen Laureano Wizner and Bertrand Pac?, for tacticians Santi Lopez-Vazquez and Tanguy Cariou it was an authentic match-race. The Spanish green hull and the Swiss' grey one sailed close, the Spaniards always focused and in control of their competitor. On the finishing line they were sixth and Near Miss seventh, getting that one point sufficient to win the Copa del Rey and to stay on top of the QUEBRAMAR GP42 circuit.

Just after Desafio crossed the line they found their 'older brothers' from the TP52 team waiting for them and also loudly celebrating their win.

As happened in the last race of the Trofeo de la Reina in Valencia, three weeks ago, it was Caser Quum owned by Javier Goizueta to get in first, thanks to a very clean sailing strategy. A good performance today was also shown by Italians on Roma GP42.2 who crossed in second position, confirming their third overall place. Following the other Italian team of Airis and the young crew from the Canary Islands, Canarias Puerto Calero, then Madrid helmed by Jos? Maria Van der Ploeg.

The final results of the GP42 class at the Copa del Rey AUDI MAPFRE are incredibly tight with four boats in five points. After the fourth event, Desafio is still firmly at the top spot of the QUEBRAMAR GP42 Cup with 84 points, second is Near Miss with 91 and third Airis at 95 points.

Quotes of the day:

Laureano Wizner, helmsman on Desaf?o: 'For us this is just another regatta of the Quebramar GP42 Cup but without any doubt it is the Mediterranean's most important one. We didn't have a brilliant start in the championship but thanks to our team work we managed to recover, which is an even greater satisfaction. I would like to dedicate our victory to our Technical director, Agust?n Zulueta, because we are here thanks to him'.

Gon?alo Esteves, Desaf?o owner: 'It's with great joy that we repeat last year's victory in Palma. In Valencia we had some speed problems with the boat but thanks the effort put by the entire team we were able to solve them. This edition of the Copa del Rey offered us stupendous racing and an impeccable organization'.

Paolo Massarini - GP42 Class Manager: 'First of all I would like to congratulate the Spanish team for its victory in the GP42 class of the Copa del Rey. They had an excellent regatta and kept us thrilled until the end, with no less than 4 boats battling for a podium spot. I think it's important to stress the fact the winner has a boat from last year, able to compete on the same level in one of the most difficult regattas of the circuit'.

The next events of the Quebramar GP42 Cup are Trofeu Quebramar-Chrysler in the Portoguese village of Cascais (August 28-30th) and the last rendez-vous, the Trofeo C?sar Manrique in Puerto Calero on the Canary Islands Canarie (October 16-18th).

Final results of the Copa del Rey AUDI MAPFRE - (1 discard)

Team Races Points

1. Desaf?o 2 2 5 6 5 2 2 1 1 2 6 28
2. Near Miss 6 1 1 1 1 6 3 3 3 4 7 29
3. Roma GP42.2 4 5 3 5 6 3 1 4 2 1 2 30
4. AIRIS 1 7 2 7 2 1 4 2 4 6 3 32
5. Caser-Quum 3 6 7 4 4 4 6 5 5 5 1 43
6. MADRID 7 4 4 2 3 5 7 6 6 7 5 > 49
7. Canarias Puerto Calero 5 3 6 3 7 7 5 7 7 3 4 50