Audi MedCup underway in Alicante

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

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Th. Martinez / Audi MedCup

The Audi MedCup moves on to Marseille, Cagliari (Sardinia), Mallorca, Portimao (Portugal) and Cartagena (southern Mediterranean Spain)

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The 'Champions League of sailing' will get underway today as the sport's most prominent athletes, including Olympic medalists and America's Cup winners, come together in a series of prestigious European regattas in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.

The Audi MedCup, contested in 52-foot monohulls (TP52s) at the cutting edge of racing technology, as well as a new edition for the 2009 event is an undercard featuring the GP42 class, is taking place in Alicante.

Four regattas take place in the Mediterranean and one in the Atlantic. Each of the five regattas is considered as an individual event, but the winner of the circuit is the team with the best overall score from the five events.

The Audi MedCup has a reputation for attracting the biggest names in professional sailing, with this year's line-up including three-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts (NZL/Artemis), 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup winner Dean Barker (NZL/Emirates Team New Zealand), defending Audi Med Cup champion Terry Hutchinson (USA/Quantum) and four-time Olympic medallist (three gold, one silver) Jochen Schuemann (GER/Marazzi), also a two-time America's Cup winner. British hopes will be pinned firmly on Cristabella, whose crew includes two-time Olympic gold medallist Iain Percy (GBR/Cristabella).

The list is a prestigious one with many of these sailors having tasted success across different arenas, inshore and offshore. In addition, HRH King Juan Carlos of Spain will be sailing for Spanish team Bribon.

Other European cities to stage Audi MedCup events are Marseilles, France (June 9-14), Cagliari, Italy (July 20-25), Portimao, Portugal, and Carthagena, Spain (September 14-19).