Team Aqua leads, with Coutts and Spithill behind

by Jennifer Hall on 11 Oct 2007 Today's fleet racing started relatively calmly with eight knots of breeze, but the bora soon filled in to offer exciting conditions for the ten teams competing in the RC44 Trieste Cup. With more than twenty knots in the first of four races, the RC44s relished in what turned out to be great practice for the upcoming Gold Cup in Dubai.

It was Deneen Demourkas (USA) helming Team Omega, with Russell Coutts on tactics, who took the first bullet of the day. The M30 and Farr 40 owner and her talented team were quick off the line and neck in neck with Team Aqua throughout the first race. Trieste's optimal conditions saw Team Omega break the boat's record as they hit 23.2 knots downwind.

Team Aqua, the leaders of the RC44 Championship Tour, demonstrated excellent boat handling skills and teamwork today. With two first place wins, Chris Bake's Dubai based team now has a five point lead going into day three.

Building on their success in the last RC44 SLAM Cup in Santa Margherita, Igor Lah's Team Ceeref continues to improve. A win in the third race, slotted Spithill and the Slovenian team into third place overall, only one point behind Team Omega.

Among the three new teams participating was Patrick de Barros' Black Pearl/ES Bankers (Dubai) Ltd with Dean Barker onboard who are in fifth place after four races.

The RC44 fleet is moored in the heart of the Barcolana race village and hundreds of spectators welcomed the teams back to the dock after a full day of racing. Following on from three windy days here in Trieste, it is anticipated that the breeze will be lighter tomorrow as racing continues on the third day of the RC44 Trieste Cup.


QUOTES

Patrick de Barros, ES Bankers (Dubai) Ltd: 'I'm very pleased with our first few races. It was difficult racing, but we had good speed and good starts. It is a privilege to sail with Dean Barker and his team mates. It is something that you don't forget.'

Dean Barker (NZL), ES Bankers (Dubai) Ltd: 'It was my first time on an RC44, it was enjoyable. They are good boats, difficult to sail. We had a good time. It was good racing, but we're going to have to improve for tomorrow.'

Deneen Demourkas (USA), Team OMEGA: 'I think I went the fastest I've ever gone: 23.2 knots in 30 knots of wind. When the bow went down, there was water everywhere! For a second I felt like I was in the Volvo Ocean Race. The boats are beautiful to drive downwind and responsive upwind in the gusts. They have a pretty nice balance.'

Adrian Stead (GBR), Mascalzone Latino: 'This is my second time racing in Trieste. t should be a good week as the excitement builds for the Barcolana.'



RC44 Trieste Cup

Overall Fleet Racing Results - Provisional Ranking – no discard

1) Team Aqua (2,1,4,1) 8 points
2) Team Omega (1,2,7,3) 13 points
3) Team Ceeref (3,5,1,5) 14 points
4) Team Cro-A-Sail (6,3,6,4) 19 points
5) Team Ekipa 44 (7,4,3,6) 20 points
6) Team ES Bankers (5,6,2,7) 20 points
7) Team Magia (4,8,9,8) 29 points
8) Team Mascalzone Latino (8,9,10,2) 29 points
9) Team Organika (10,7,8,9) 34 points
10) Team Beecom (9,10,5,10) 34 point