Tim Mascalzone Latino In Cruel Defeat

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“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

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