Cascais RC44 Match Race Cup: THE UPS AND DOWNS BEGIN The AEZ RC44 Sailing Team starts at Cascais with the Rankings of 12, 14, 5 and 12 in the Fleet Race Series. The first race in the Fleet Race didn't go as hoped for the AEZ RC44 Sailing Team in Portugal. The crew around helmsman Rene Mangold, tactician Christian Binder and strategist Markus Wieser (GER) started the day cautiously at the second station in the RC44 Championship Tour 2012 with ranks 12 and 14. In race number three the AEZ team featured in 5th Place, showing what they are capable of, before they had to settle with a ranking of 12 at the end. With the best weather circumstances and wind strengths from 12-18 knots, the victories went to world class sailors: The Synergy (RUS) with America's Cup winner Ed Baird won the opening. RC44 Championship title-holder Aqua (GB) with America's Cup winner Cameron Appleton won in the second round. The Katusha (RUS) with sailing-legend and series founder Russell Coutts as tactician won in the third race. In the final race the CEEREF (SLO) celebrated with a win, which earned them an overall lead. Up and throughout Sunday there will be three races sailed daily.

Voices: Christian Binder (Trim & Overall Tactician): "It's hard to deal with such a blow to the head. We made too many small mistakes and one can't let that happen with such strong competition. It's aggravating because we had it in our hands to land much further up. The new sails are outstanding. The sailing conditions were super, which we have seen in every race after the first crossing. Then we were always at the front of the field." Rene Mangold (Helmsman): "Things like that happen, and we have to move on from today and really concentrate on the upcoming races. It's so close that you can be quickly spit to the back after one mistake. But we're not giving up. At the season start in Lanzarote we were next to last as well after the second day, and then earned our best success with fifth in overall ranking." RC44 Championship Tour 2012 Intermediate Standings RC44 Cascais, FLEET RACE (4 Races): 1. CEEREF (SLO) 14 2. Katusha (RUS) 15 3. Team Aqua (GBR) 21 14. AEZ RC44 Sailing Team 43 (12,14,5,12) AEZ Light Alloy Wheels, an essential component of the four-headed ALCAR Family, sets itself apart through innovative quality, the demand for perfection and a maximum on quality insurance. The Top Austrian Company's ever-increasing popularity is not limited to its products for the streets, but is also known for its regatta racing. Aside from the RC44 Team and Markus Wieser, the Youth Olympic sailor Lara Vadlau with foresailor Eva Maria Schimak, as well as Junior World Champion and 49er Ace Thomas Zajac and Thomas Czajka belong to the AEZ Family. www.aez-wheels.com Tour Dates 2012: 8 - 12 February Puerto Calero/ESP 28 March – 1 April Cascais/POR 30 May – 3 June Gmunden/AUT 18 - 22 July Marstrand/SWE 3 - 7 October Weltmeisterschaft, Rovinj/CRO Link: www.rc44.at

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