Germany opens slender lead in Audi MedCup
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A new leader, but with an oh-so slender margin, goes into the final race of the second Audi MedCup grand prix on Sunday praying for good conditions after Udo Schutz’s German yacht won the coastal race.
Scoring points and a half, that put them one and a half points ahead of the boat that has led all week, the American entry Quantum, now skippered by Ed Baird and probably not only the best prepared but most experienced and even best funded.
The Container afterguard of Markus Wieser, Hamish Pepper and Marc Lagesse, German, Kiwi and South African respectively, knows that the key to their rise and rise in performance is down to cutting errors, sailing the percentages, and trying to make sure they are in the top group when turning for the downwind legs.
”Every boat can win a race here and every boat can be last,” says Lagesse. “So there is no room for error because you will surely be punished. But we feel we have a slight edge downwind.”
Quantum needs to beat Container by two places in the final race if it is to add the Marseille trophy to the one it won at the opening regatta in Cascais, Portugal. That is certainly do-able.
In the wars on Friday, as Rán was black flag disqualified after a collision which required all-night repairs to its stern and a newly-fitted bowsprit to Tony Langley’s Gladiator, which has now won two races, the British boats found themselves in tandem again but this time at the back of the fleet.
Niklas Zennstrom’s Rán has moved from a high of second to sixth overall but, as a sister-ship to Container, knows it, to, can score well if it can complete the upwind legs well.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments