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| Bull on Board The AEZ RC44 Sailing Team has a new ace up their sleeve with Gerd Habermüller, has to disclaim one man and has big hopes before Copenhagen at the Dubai-Turbo. For the first time the RC44 class, which is organized by the Royal Danish Yacht Club, has the honor to be in Denmark and before Copenhagen. Starting June 8 the offshore elite scene is racing for prestige and points for the third time in the course of this year’s Championship-Series. In contrast to Gmunden the long distance races will be set aside, the determinations remain in the match and fleet races. Ten syndicates show the flag, among them are the local AEZ RC44 Sailing Team with Christian Binder and Rene Mangold. Once more there is a rivalry of the BMW Oracle grandees, the first round in the America’s Cup’s duel’s winners went to Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison, who won everything there was to win at the Traunsee. The Austrians, still the only amateur team in the RC44 circus and on the grounds of the races since yesterday, have two new alterations for Copenhagen. With Gerd Habermüller there’s a new force in the cockpit, but one man has to be immolated for the 185cm high and 105kg heavy grinder in order to keep the mandatory maximum weight. “The crew is not allowed to weigh more that 680 kilograms”, explains Binder, who knows and appreciates Habermüller from the TP52 times.”Gerd is a real bull and extremely ambitious. He is our gain for sure.” Bernd Mayr, until now on the grinder, is trying for the first time as pit. According to Binder the change from nine to eight sailors shouldn’t be a big problem, the only catch is the short preparation. “We must get used to the hand movements and work on our communication, that doesn’t happen in a day.” However a progression is wanted which the home event didn’t bring. “We can show more than on the Traunsee, especially in the fleet race we want to make a step towards the middle field.” Habermüller, who brought speed into Hubert Schösser and Wolfgang Stampfer’s sleigh in the ice canal, left the pushing in 2006, switched to the cockpit and took over the winch. Last on board with Roman Hagara in the Extreme 40 Series, the 41 year old from Stockerau speaks of a new challenge and great honor. “The well known competition is really impressing, but we have nothing to lose.” Christian Binder blows the same horn, wants to join Dubai’s activity and passes on the wheel to Rene Mangold after the match race rounds. “We sailed with the pinch bar in Gmunden, made too many mistakes and didn’t use our possibilities. We can do it better and hope for a better run.” The duel boat against boat begins June 8, two days later the fleet race will be joined. The winner of all will be announced June 13. The teams involved in the RC 44 Copenhagen Cup: Team No Way Back/NED (Pieter Heerema / Ray Davies) Artemis/SWE (Torbjorn Tornqvist / Terry Hutchinson) CEEREF/SLO (Igor Lah / Rod Davis) BMW ORACLE Racing/USA (Larry Ellison / Russell Coutts) Team Aqua/UAE (Chris Bake / Cameron Appleton) Team Islas Canarias Puerto Calero/ESP (José Juan Calero / José Maria Ponce) Katusha/RUS (Guennadi Timtchenko / Paul Cayard) Team Sea Dubai/UAE (Harm Muller Spreer / Markus Wieser) AEZ RC44 Sailing Team/AUT (René Mangold / Christian Binder) 17/USA (Ian Vickers / James Spithill) Team calender 2010: Al Maktoum Sailing Trophy Dubai/VAE 22.-27. Februar 2010 RC44 Austria Cup Gmunden/AUT 29. April – 04. Mai 2010 RC44 Copenhagen Cup Kopenhagen/DEN 08.-13. Juni 2010 RC44 Valencia Cup Valencia/ESP 27. Juli – 01. August 2010 RC44 World Championship Puerto Calero/ESP 11.-16. Oktober 2010 RC 44 Miami Cup Miami/USA 07.-12. Dezember 2010 Links: www.rc44.at www.rc44.com |
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