Cartagena.- The Region of Murcia Trophy will close the 2009 edition of the Audi MedCup Circuit. The Islas Canarias Puerto Calero, skippered by José María Ponce, starts in this final regatta of the GP 42' Series, tied on points in the lead with Paolo Cian's Roma. Both boats have 82 points, so a spectacular final duel is expected between the Canarians and the Romans.
The Islas Canarias Puerto Calero will start with high morale after winning two of the four races held (Alicante and Cagliari). It has also been on the podium in the other two (second in Marseille and third in Portimao). This will be the first time that the Islas Canarias Puerto Calero competes in Murcian waters, which will be an added incentive in this final of the GP 42' season, pending the icing on the cake, which will be the Global Cup to be held in a month's time in Lanzarote waters.
José María Ponce is very excited and eager to start competing in Cartagena: "We are very keen to compete in a regatta that will be very competitive, especially with Roma, who are our great rivals". The Canarian helmsman wants to finish at the top "to be able to dedicate it to the Calero family, who have supported us from the beginning and the best gift we can give them is winning the Audi MedCup". The tension is maximum in the team, according to Ponce "we hope that the wind will be good, we are plugged in and nervous and eager to start now".
Three windward-leeward races are scheduled for today, Thursday, off the coast of Cartagena, after the absence of wind yesterday.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE GP42 SERIES CIRCUIT
1. ISLAS CANARIAS PUERTO CALERO (ESP) 20-23-23-16, 82 points.
2. Roma (ITA) 22-17-30-13, 82 points.
3. Caser Endesa (ESP) 33-27-26-13, 99 points.
4. Airis (ITA) 21-38-28-25, 112 points.
5. Madrid (ESP) 35-35-43-23, 136 points.
CREW
Skipper: José María Ponce
Tactician: Gustavo Martínez Doreste
Navigator: Alicia Ageno
Main trimmer: Leonardo Armas
Genoa trimmer: Federico Morales
Spinnaker trimmer: Domingo Manrique
Piano: Francisco Díaz
Mast: David Vera
Grinder: Moisés Farias
Bowman: Gonzalo Morales