At the end of the Audi MedCup season, if a certain satisfaction at having met the many different challenges of wind, seas and opposition across five regattas in four countries runs deep among the competing teams, so too there can be a huge measure of satisfaction that the Audi MedCup Circuit has excelled in its own challenges, breaking new ground and prospering under a difficult global economy. It has been another illuminating and memorable season offering many distinctive highlights.

The universal appreciation among the TP52 Series fleet is that the standards have been significantly higher through the entire fleet, revealing true strength and depth, while the innovative addition of the GP42 Series fleet has been widely applauded as an exciting new dimension to the Circuit.

The theme of the final party of the season in Cartagena, Spain was Veni, Vidi, Vici, but no team exemplified that expression more than Emirates Team New Zealand. On the their first season on the Circuit in their own team colours the Kiwi America’s Cup team won four out of five regattas and clinched the overall title with a couple of days to spare.  Off the water they were as impressive as they were on the race courses.

If the TP52 Series was about marvelling at the awesome emergence of Emirates Team New Zealand, so the GP42 Series kept everyone on the edge from start to finish. From Alicante in May to Cartagena in September nothing could ever be taken for granted in this high octane, high speed class.

While the bar was raised ever higher in terms of the standard of competition, the shorebased amenities engaged and informed thousands of visitors with the new Audi MedCup interactive Expo. As well as comprehensive background information about the teams, the Circuit and the GP42 and TP52 boats, the interactive Audi driving games also proved popular.

For the first time there was real time race tracking with Virtual Eye which was broadcast live with supplementary live audio comments on  HYPERLINK "http://www.medup.org" www.medup.org  as well as keeping visitors Audi MedCup Regatta village.

In the end Emirates Team New Zealand’s overall margin was considerable, 74 points over 2008 Audi MedCup champions Quantum Racing (USA) who finished runners up. But each individual regatta triumph, in Marseille, Cagliari, Portimao and Cartagena, was hard won, and more than once it was the serious errors and mishaps which befell the opposition in the closing stages of the events, which proved critical.

The GP42 Series was only decided on the final race when Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP) took the last 2009 Circuit winning gun with Roma Mk 2 (ITA) in fourth. That was enough to give them an overall winning margin of just one single point over their Italian rivals.


Alicante

The welcome back to Alicante for the third successive season was warm and the test for both TP52 and GP42 Series on the waters in May is never straightforward. There was a fairly typical mix of  light spring breezes and some brisker days. While Matador won the TP52 Series Regatta by a single point, Emirates Team New Zealand could have won but for one error in the final race but Artemis also came closest. Three points separated the top three but as Islas Canarias Puerto Calero won the Trophy of Alicante for the GP42 Series, only two points split the top three there.

Marseille
Emirates Team New Zealand got into their regatta winning stride in Marseille where the Mistral returned to offer some spectacular sailing. Across the first 6 of ten races the Kiwi team never finished lower than third. Once again the scenery of the coastal race is to behold as Quantum Racing win. The last day was marked by lighter, conflicting breezes which proved a sting in the tail. Roma Mk 2 proved supreme in the GP42 Series, winning by six clear points.

Cartagena
A great mix of conditions produced excellent racing as Emirates Team New Zealand won ugly, keeping cool and composed when the chips were down on a breezy final day of Mistral sailing. Sardinia delivered a full programme of 11 races including a testing coastal race which saw Matador cede a big early lead. The Kiwis won by a clear 14.5 points while Islas Canarias Puerto Calero chalked up their second regatta title of the season.

Portimao
The New Zealand crew proved unstoppable in Portugal as they became the first team to win three MedCup regattas in a row ever. But this time, with fewer races, their margin was less conclusive. Artemis were, again, challengers to the last day but slipped from a coastal race triumph to an inglorious 10th in the one race on the last day. Caser Endesa chalked up their only regatta win, taking the Trophy of Portugal on countback.

Cartagena
A suitable finale to the season was revealed with strong winds and big seas which provided some of the most enduring images, reflecting some remarkable sailing. Emirates Team New Zealand were on show-stopping form in the bigger winds and raced off to the overall Audi MedCup Circuit title with two days of the season left. The GP42 Series was not over until the final winning gun went to the Canarian team on Islas Canaria Puerto Calero which secured them the overall title.