Ed Baird has skippered Quantum Racing to victory in the 2012 Audi Med Cup for TP52 yachts. The team beat Spanish favourites Bribon in a series that went down to the wire in the last race in Barcelona.
After a thrilling final two days of an incredible season Quantum Racing won their second Audi MedCup title by an overall margin of 15 points, ahead of Jose Cusi’s Bribon, Italy’s Audi Azzurra Sailing team take third.
Niklas Zennstrom’s RAN won the Conde de Godo Barcelona Trophy.
Owner Cusi said,
“We’ve given Spain many wins during this 38 years, and that’s a reason to be happy. The boat retires but I don’t, I’ll keep racing on more simple boats. As we crossed the finish line I got a phone call from the king to congratulate us for our second place in a Circuit of such high level and in Barcelona.”
Quantum Racing started with victory in the opening regatta of the season in Cascais, finished second in Marseille, fifth in Cagliari and third in Cartagena. Quantum Racing’s project manager Ed Reynolds, also co-architect of their 2008 title win, smiled on the dockside today:
“Of all the MedCups this is the one I am most thrilled about. When they had to step up, they did. We feel like we have been defending the whole season, like we had a target on our backs since we won in Cascais at the beginning of the season. We were defending before we were ready to. I just hate to lose, and so I have such a sense of relief but it is so great to be part of a team like this. In competitive sport when everything is on the line to be a part of something which stands up and takes control that was the best part of the whole year.”
The inaugural Audi MedCup Circuit 40 Series title was Iberdrola Team’s with a day to spare, the Spanish team which is skippered by Jose Maria Torcida, also won their fourth Trophy of the season with another pair of race wins today.
2011 Audi MedCup Circuit 52 Series -Final standings after five regattas
1. Quantum Racing (USA), 19 + 30 + 42+38,5+33= 162,5 points
2. Bribón (ESP), 47,5 + 38+37+25+30= 177,5 points
3. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 32,5 + 37+35,5+28+47= 180 points
4. Container (GER), 31,5+28,5+38+43+44= 185 points
5. Ràn (SUE), 40,5+41,5+43,5+48,5+28= 202 points
6. Audi Sailing Team Powered by All4One (GER/FR) 58 + 43,5+26,5+39,5+37 =204,5 points
5. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), 37+39,5+44,5+43,5+44= 208,5 points
8. Gladiator (GBR), 85,5+47+85,5+85,5+61= 364,5 points
40 Series – Final standings after five regattas
1. Iberdrola Team (ESP) 13+14+9+17+15= 68 points
2. Noticia IV (ESP) 25 + 22+15+19+23= 104 points
3. Ngoni (GBR) 33+26+22+13+25= 119 points
4. Patagonia (ARG) 28 +17+42+32+43= 162 points
5. XXII (ESP) 23+26+24+39+64= 176 points
6. Cruiser-racer (ESP) 48+42+42+48+28= 208 points
7. Bigamist (POR) 48+42+42+48+34=214 points
