| How time flies. The Audi MedCup for the TP52s has concluded its fourth year. The final regatta of the circuit in Portimao, Portugal was competed by 14 boats and while this down turn from the 20+ strong fleets of 2007 might indicate that the bubble has burst in the world’s leading fleet racing class, it is worth remembering that each one of these campaigns is today a major entity. The modern Audi MedCup has evolved into a circuit about quality not quantity.
As Audi MedCup organiser Nacho Postigo puts it: “I think the season has been very very positive because the level of the fleet has risen up again and there has been 10 boats that from day one could have won the circuit.”
Dwindling numbers may be due to the natural progression of any class of this type based on a box rule boat and with no restrictions on pro crews. Inevitably as the class becomes more competitive prices escalate and this drives out some owners - we have seen this time and again - and on this occasion it comes at a time when the world is undergoing massive economic upheaval. But this is only part of the story. In a class where the total bill for crew salaries are a close second to the price of building a new boat, competing in the Audi MedCup season in 2008 was more expensive as there were six regattas instead of the five there were in 2007. ...more |
