PRESS RELEASE
“TIM MASCALZONE LATINO” IN CRUEL DEFEAT ON CONTEST WITH “PRADA”
Auckland, 30 ottobre 2002 - In a quite amazing race in which “TIM Mascalzone Latino” led for every leg , it was the
cruellest of cruel luck that finally decided the outcome against fellow Italian syndicate “Prada.”
It was the match of the day and possibly the match of the entire tournament as “TIM Mascalzone Latino” won the start by
1 second with a brilliant performance once again from Paulo Cian in a very shifty 8-9 knot breeze. Showing fantastic
boatspeed and tactical awareness Flavio Favini steered the boat for the rest of the race, picking up the first crucial
windshift and by the first windward mark enjoyed a lead of some 32 seconds.
By the leeward mark, the all-Italian syndicate headed by Vincenzo Onorato had a lead of 58 seconds through brilliant
crew-work and excellent downwind speed. However the wind Gods were not being kind today and as the racecourse became
fluky our Italian rivals closed the gap to just 6 seconds at the final windward mark.
Following a perfect hoist of our asymmetric gennaker, “TIM Mascalzone Latino” headed off down to the finish line,
increasing its lead and looking every inch a winner. The Prada syndicate split gybes with TIM Mascalzone Latino and
proceeded down the left side of the run. When the Prada syndicate gybed back to pass behind our transom, “TIM Mascalzone
Latino” gybed to cover. After a series of rain squalls had blown over the racecourse our spinnaker was wet and in a
manoeuvre that was literally Œone in a thousand’ as “TIM Mascalzone Latino” gybed the spinnaker cloth stuck together
causing a twist in the kite that just could not be cleared without lowering.
It was the kind of luck that all sailors fear and after such a courageous and brave struggle “TIM Mascalzone Latino” was
forced to swallow its pride and accept defeat with the utmost grace as Prada sailed over to weather and recorded a win
of 1 minute 42 seconds. Disappointment reigns over our camp but we are professional and will be ready to fight again
tomorrow against the British ŒTeam GBR’.
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.
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Mascalzone Latino and its team can be visited at the internet site: www.mascalzonelatino.it