Quantum Racing have won their 3rd TP52 World Championship title. The team, skippered by Ed Baird scored a second and first on the final day of racing at the Audi TP52 World Championship at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
Emerging with a four points margin over Germany’s Container, the American flagged Quantum team complete the same ‘double’ as they did in 2008, winning both the Audi MedCup Circuit title as well as the World Championship.
Ed Reynolds (USA) project manager Quantum Racing (USA):
“What can I say. With fewer boats you would think it would get easier but it always gets more difficult. This really was not easy in the conditions, but I think the team sailed an awesome regatta. They did what they had to do, focusing most of all on being fast all the time. They were good at setting the modes in the different conditions and moving between them. Ado Stead sailed brilliantly with some good start and really following the plans we talked about.
Each of these world titles have been about a quintessential team performance, with two different teams of different characteristics and styles with no major, standout star names in either but unified in the level of results, and that is really down to Doug De Vos for putting the resources to give us good solid teams.
Francesco Mongelli has been a fantastic addition to the team here. In fact both tall Francesco (coach De Angelis) and short Francesco (Mongelli, navigator) have been great here. Little Francesco added a whole different dynamic, visibly excited to be with the team and his energy was infectious, he was so proud to be with the team that it was infectious.”
With tactician Adrian Stead (GBR) combining with new navigator Francesco Mongelli (ITA) Quantum Racing were consistent across the very different wind conditions, from the very light sub 10kts conditions of the first three days of racing to a useful fourth in the strong early morning Mistral of Friday, to their final flourish in today’s moderate 7-11kts.
In paying tribute to team owner Doug De Vos, who was on hand to enjoy their success, Quantum Racing’s inspirational project manager Ed Reynolds, architect behind each of their wins, commented:
Each of these world titles has been about a quintessential team performance, with two different teams of different characteristics and styles with no major, standout star names in either but unified in the level of results, and that is really down to Doug De Vos for putting the resources to give us good solid teams.”
Tactician Stead who called the shots successfully last season in Valencia, smiled:
“ It is splendid – It is a great way to finish the season. We had a tense Audi MedCup, we have been really pleased with the way that we have sailed here against boats which have been in their conditions in the form of Gladiator and Paramount Park. Everyone has been pushing pretty hard.”
Udo Schuetz’ Container with skipper-helm Markus Wieser (GER) and his crew, augmented at this regatta by Kiwi mainsheet trimmer Don Cowie, came out on the final day with their strongest finishes of the late season.
Wieser attributed a large measure of their success to completely changing their rig set up under the advice of Cowie who won the Audi MedCup Circuit title twice as mainsheet trimmer with Emirates Team New Zealand. Wieser said:
“We are happy that it finished up like this, it was a long season and the last two regattas we hard with no boatspeed. But here we changed everything, a complete new set up with Don Cowie, and we had boat speed again and could be more aggressive in the way we sailed. We were so slow in Cartagena. But second here is good.”
Tony Langley’s British crew on Gladiator, surprise early leaders of these world championship, held on to third place overall with their third place in what proved to be the final race, completing the podium by virtue of a better tie-break than the Spanish Paramount Park Murcia.
Langley commended the approach of their tactician, Melges 32 world title winning Chris Larson:
“What was great was the attitude he came with. He came to me and said ‘I really think we can win this’ and that mental attitude was really refreshing and we really set out to try and do that. So that was a big change really. Nacho (Postigo) stepped in and did a really nice job with us too.”
Audi TP52 World Championship – Yacht Club Costa Smerelda, Sardinia
FINAL RESULTS
- Quantum Racing (USA) 1+3+5+1+4+2+1= 17 points
- Container (GER) 2+7+3+4+2+1+2= 21 points
- Gladiator (GBR) 3+1+4+2+6+5+3= 24 points
- Paramount Park Murcia (ESP) 4+2+1+3+5+4+5= 24 points
- Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (IT) 5+4+7+6+1+3+7= 33 points
- RÁN (SWE) 6+5+2+5+ 8 (DNF)+6+6= 38 points
- Audi ALL4ONE (GER/FRA) 7+6+6+7+3+7+4= 40 points
Owner Driver trophy for Tony Langley, Gladiator.
