Two good races on the second day of competition at the Trofeo Alicante, the first regatta of the 2007 Breitling MedCup circuit, and it is Ian Walker and the crew of the new Reichel-Pugh designed Patches, owned by Eamon Conneely, which tops the fleet of 23 TP52’s.
In ideal conditions, 20 knots of breeze, perfect sunshine and just enough swell and chop to help the TP52’s pop their bows and plane, it was the type of exhilarating conditions savoured by owners, crews and spectators alike.
With Walker calling tactics and Tim Powell driving, the Irish flagged Patches added a second fifth place to their scoreline in the morning before finishing runners up this afternoon behind Peter de Ridder’s defending champions on Valle Romano Mean Machine. Patches lead by three points from Russell Coutts and a high calibre team on Torbjorn Tornqvist’s new Judel Vrolijk designed Artemis. Artemis scored a runaway win in the first race of the day.
Coutts choreographed a text book start clear ahead within seconds of the gun. In 10-14 knots of southerly breeze they reaped the rewards of erring towards the right, favoured side of the first beat and were never challenged after the first mark. Slick handling was required especially in the second race, as the sea breeze built sharply and De Ridder and his team capitalised after they went round the windward mark first, building a comfortable lead. The coastal race, which counts for double points, is scheduled for today.
