Quebramar GP42 Cup final leg in Puerto Calero - Preview

Teams prepare their weapons for the final battle

Follow the racing on Virtual Eye

The eight teams participating in the GP42 international circuit are ready to use their best weapons for the VII Trofeo César Manrique, the final prize being the overall victory in the Quebramar GP42 Cup 2008. For the first time ever racing can be followed online in real time on Virtual Eye.

The battle is only two days away. The eight boats that are ready to fight for the final leg of the Quebramar GP42 Cup, are all moored at Puerto Calero Marina, where sailors and shore teams are working for the final settings and preparations.

Nothing is left to chance, nor the boats’ preparations or the crew final additions. The latest news speak of the Swiss/French team from Near Miss, the Farr designed grey and orange boat owned by Franck Noel and skippered by Bertrand Pacé, that will boast a world-class new tactician: kiwi Hamish Pepper, known for his America’s Cup career and for his recent participation in the Qingdao Olympic Games in the Star class. Confirmed, in his usual role of navigator, sailing guru Tom Schnackenberg.

Airis, the Felci design for Roberto Monti, have too embarked a new crew member, new Zealander Cameron Dunn, who everyone remembers on Mascalzone Latino in Valencia and who will certainly make the Italian team stronger and more keen on getting on the final podium.

On Near Miss’ sistership, Roma GP 42.2- owned by Italian entrepreneur Filippo Faruffini and helmed by Paolo Cian- the shore team is working hard on setting the appendages. In fact, Roma GP42.2 had her keel modified while Spaniards from Javier Gozueta’s Caser-Quum have taken the boat back to the original configuration, putting in place the old keel.

Bodegas Luis Alegre, the only GP42 helmed by a female sailor, the Spanish Olympian Natalia Via Dufresne, is sporting a brand new sponsor logo on her hull promoting tourism in the Basque Region.

Special attention is also paid by everyone to weather prediction as racing in Lanzarote will mean a departure from the usual wind patterns the GP42 crews are accustomed to in the Mediterranean, the fleet’s main race area during the 2008 season. From May to October northeasterly trade winds prevail over the Spanish Atlantic island. During a typical day in Puerto Calero the breeze will start building at around 11 am and blow until 4-5pm with an intensity between 14 and 17 knots. Then, as the land breeze kicks in, a left shift takes place and intensity drops. As a result races will start at around noon every day, in order to fully take advantage of strong and constant conditions.

The last rendez-vous of the Quebramar GP42 Cup will open with a practice race, scheduled for Wednesday 15th, sailing with every team also a media representative or a special guest. The official calendar will then offer three more days of intense racing, with three starts per day for a total of nine races.

Yet, one of the most interesting novelties of the Trofeo Manrique and the GP42 class is the introduction, for the first time ever, of the Virtual Eye technology, also used in world-class events such as the America’s Cup or the Volvo Ocean Race. Each boat from the GP42 fleet will be equipped with a high-tech GPS system that will send navigation data back to shore, allowing web surfer to follow the racing online and in real time at www.trofeopuertocalero.com and at the official GP42 website.

The VII Trofeo César Manrique, is organized by Club de Mar Puerto Calero, by Casino Club Náutico de Arrecife and Real Federación Española de Vela, in co-operation with Asociación Española de Clubes Náuticos, Asociación Canaria de Clubes Náuticos and Federación Canaria de Vela.