Cascais RC44 Cup 2012: THE COMEBACK BEGINS The AEZ RC44 Sailing Team improves to Ranks 10, 4 and 4 in the Fleet Race Series at Cascais. Yesterday's opening in the Fleet Race did not go according to plan for the AEZ RC44 Sailing Team. However, today the crew around helmsman Rene Mangold, tactician Christian Binder and strategist Markus Wieser (GER) carried on making amends in Portugal. The team sailed from the second station of the RC44 Championship Tour 2012 in 10th, 4th and 4th Place, succeeding in a jump from 14th place to 11th in the Fleet Race overall ranking. No Way Back (NED) is only seven points away from eighth place. Keeping ahead is the Russian Katusha, setting the tone with sailing legend Russell Coutts. The Atlantic shows itself today during the three races its hard side. Wind up to 23 knots (gusts up to 27 knots) demanded everything from the teams and materials. Several spinnakers broke, even for the AEZ Team while they were in third place in the first day's race. Lighter winds are predicted for tomorrow. Until and including Sunday another five races will be sailed.

Voices: Rene Mangold (Helmsman): "Before the Regatta, a place in middle field was the goal. Now we are in the running. Sixth place is only eleven points away, which we have the rest of the races to make up for. We still made mistakes today, but this time the others made more mistakes than us." Christian Binder (Trim & Lead Tactician): "We were in the Top 5 in each race with the Regatta, which showed us that the material works. The fact that the spinnaker exploded was bad luck for us as well as for others. Now we have to bring in more consistency, and it doesn't bother us that tomorrow there is less wind predicted. Looking ahead to the Traunsee, where the next RC44 station is, it will be a good measure on where we stand with the adapted material with less wind." RC44 Championship Tour 2012 Intermediate Standings RC44 Cascais, FLEET RACE (7 Races): 1. Katusha (RUS) 24 2. Team Aqua (GBR) 38 3. CEEREF (SLO) 40 11. AEZ RC44 Sailing Team 61 (12,14,5,12,10,4,4) 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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