20th September, 2005 (Porto Rotondo, Sardinia).

The Breitling MEDCUP TP52 fleet face the final event of the Circuit in Sardinia, Italy, with Pisco Sour, skippered by Vasco Vascotto, leading the general leader board, and Bribón, skippered by HM the King of Spain, leading in the Corinthian category. The races commence tomorrow (Wednesday) in the incomparable surroundings of the Italian island of Sardinia. There are six races programmed for the event (two coastal and four inshore), which will draw to a close on Saturday. Two new vessels have joined the fleet for the fifth and final event in the Circuit, the Audi Cup – Patches (IRL) ad the US boat Sjambok. Ben Ainslie and Gavin Brady are among the new names appearing on the crew lists for this event.

There is much at stake for the closing event in the Circuit which begins tomorrow (Wednesday) in Porto Rotondo, Sardinia.
Leading the rankings in the Breitling MEDCUP at the moment are the Italian-Chilean Pisco Sour, skippered by Vasco Vascotto, and Bribón, skippered by HM the King of Spain in the Corinthian category (for owner drivers). Strong winds have been blowing, meaning that yesterday only the Irish team Patches took to the waves to train. The forecast indicates a drop in wind-speed for tomorrow.

Ten vessels will be on the start line tomorrow: Pisco Sour, the leader of the rankings ever since her stunning victory in Valencia (the second Breitling MEDCUP event), skippered by Vasco Vascotto, who will fiercely defend their 5 point advantage; Lexus Quantum, the winner of the last two events, with Russell Coutts as skipper; in third place Caixa Galicia, skippered by Volvo Ocean Race sailor Roberto Bermúdez de Castro and with John Kostecki as tactician. Next in the scoreboard is Italian Orlanda-Olympus, skippered by Lorenzo Bressanni: Bribón, skippered by the King of Spain that on this occasion will have Augie Diaz reinforcing the afterguard; Aifos, owned by the Spanish Navy; and Balearia, with 49er’s gold medallist Iker Martinez onboard. Two new competitors are in Porto Rotondo to sample a taste of this Grand Prix sailing: the Irish vessel Patches 52, with Ben Ainslie (Emirates Team New Zealand) and Ian Walker (+39) as skipper and Sjambok, from USA. Gavin Brady is the skipper of Sjambok and Dee Smith has joined the team after competing in previous events with Caixa Galicia.

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