June 17, 2008
Porto Cervo, Sardinia

Team Murka joined the first Russian entry in the history of the Rolex Sardinia Cup today.
The Rolex Sardinia Cup is a regatta of nations competing in teams comprised of 3 different yachts racing against other national teams. This year’s Russian entry includes Team Murka’s Swan 45 Murka 2, Vasyl Gureyev’s Farr 40 Arctur, and Oleg Gavrilin’s TP52 Rusal Synergy with Olympic Soling sailor Sergiy Pichugin at the helm.

The International Sailing Federation, ISAF, has designated the Sardinia Rolex Cup as the Offshore Team World Championship, and teams will also be racing for the Rolex Offshore Team World Championship Trophy in addition to the cherished Rolex Sardinia Cup Trophy.

Organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the Rolex Sardinia Cup saw the five competing nations complete a windward-leeward race of approximately 7.5 miles despite light and shifty wind conditions.

The Race Committee waited almost three hours for a south easterly breeze of 8 knots to materialize before starting race one at 3 p.m. The breeze then proceeded to lessen to 6 or 7 knots and move right before returning to its original 135 degrees and gradually fading out by the end of the second downwind leg. Regatta Official Peter Reggio confirmed that at the end of the race “the top mark was showing 1 to 2 knots and there was really no way we could start another.”

“A difficult first day in Sardinia,” admitted Jochen Schuemann, former Alinghi sailor and now Sports Director of Platoon. “We got a really good start but due to the shifts we lost our first place. But we are very fast in light winds and we regained ground and after a real match race situation with the Russian boat in the last run, we managed to win the race.”

Team Murka mainsail trimmer, Chris Mason explained, “Because of the shifty conditions, it is anyone’s race at times. Unless you have a crystal ball to know the wind shifts in advance, you can only race the best race you can. Tomorrow’s forecast of stronger winds should favour us, so let’s see what happens then.”

Tomorrow’s forecast predicts slightly stronger winds of approximately 10 knots from north-west. Racing is scheduled to start at 12pm tomorrow, June 18, 2008.