Suspence In Gulf. TIM Mascalzone Latino In Lead

PRESS RELEASE

SUSPENCE IN HAURAKI GULF, TIM MASCALZONE LATINO IS IN THE LEAD BUT THE COMMITTEE ABANDON THE RACE

Auckland, 8th Ocotber, 2002 ­ Suspence in Hauraky Gulf where the wind dropped completely and the race between “TIM Mascalzone Latino” and British team of “White Lightning” had to be abonadoned by the Race Committee.

At the start, fired at 12.30 with a 6kts Easterly breeze, “TIM Mascalzone Latino”, the america’s cupper helmed by Paolo Cian took a 4” advantage over “GBR Challenge”.He perfectly steered the boat pushing the other competitor to the pin end of the line.

Acting very good options on the windward leg tactician Flavio Favini could keep the advantage that resulted in a mark rounding 14” ahead the boats kippered by Ian Walker. “TIM Mascalzone Latino” was still ahead by 11” at the leeward mark rounding.

During the second winward leg the wind started to drop and at that moment the British boat could take the lead thanks just to the shifts. Anyway “TIM Mascalzone Latino” didn’t get froghtened by the British team and in the last windward leg it took again the lead. Unfortunately the time limit for each leg (45 minutes) expired and the Race Committe abandon the race that will be resailed at the end of RR1.

The team headed by skipper Vincenzo Onorato is in a very good mood despite the cancellation of the race it was about to win:”We are very glad after this race even if it didn’t come to an happy end: we could quite easily control the other yacht even if it was a tough opponent. Sometimes is good to get a bit of luck”.

Tomorrow bye day for “TIM Mascalzone Latino” as scheduled. The next match for the all-Italian team will take place on Thursday facing the America "Stars & Stripes"

Mascalzone Latino and its team are racing with the TIM colours, the only mobile telephone company entirely Italian and sole sponsor for this all-Italian challenge.

Mascalzone Latino and its team can be visited at the internet site:

http://www.mascalzonelatino.it

© Scoop Media