ALPE ADRIA SAILING TOUR 2003
"CITY OF AQUILEIA" WINS THE NINTH LEG SPLIT- MAKARSKA

Makarska (Croatia), 18 May 2003

After two false starts due to the complete lack of wind, Marco Augelli on board of «City of Aquileia» wins the ninth leg of the Alpe Adria Sailing Tour, Split- Makarska, with 2h19'02, which ended late last night. It's the second win for this team, who had already won the leg Muggia-Koper. After the second race was suspended, the race committee decided to let the twelve Solaris 36 OD motor the boats to a place where there would be more wind, closer to the arrival point. 9 miles from the city of Makarska, in front of the Isle of Brec, the marks were placed and the third and final start was given. Among the top three winning boats is also «Scor Team» 37seconds from the winner, thus in second place and «City of Split» third with 1'21secs. Among the team of «City of Split» is the President of the Croatian Olympic Committe, Zlatko Matesa. With his good result, «City of Split» consolidates his first place in the overall results, bringing his advantage over «BMW Tomic» with Peter Holmberg at the helm (who only arrived in 11th place in Makarska) to a lead of 19'50 secs.

It was an excellent race for the courageous women's team of «Val Nautika» who arrived fourth at 1'54 secs. The skipper Sabrina Breda, explains, ' We decided to risk it and go near the shore. At one point we were even in first place until a sudden wind shift took away our success. We are still really happy, we showed that we can race with just about anyone!' Also a great result for the boat «Region Friuli Venezia Giulia» in fifth place at 2'21secs. The helmsman, Marco Sartori said, 'it was a constant battle for first place, we alternated with the girl's team, «City of Aquileia» and Holmberg's «BMW Tomic». It was frustrating to have a constant increase and decrease of wind, but in the end, our tactics paid off and we are happy with the result.' Good race also for the team «Clementei» who arrived sixth by 2'44secs. The overall results see «City of Split» with an advantage of 19'50 over Peter Holmberg's «BMW Tomic», while the rest of the results remain basically unchanged with «Barcolana» still in third place, followed by «Scor Team» and «City of Aquileia». In progress today, the «Alcatel Cup» the third of the four promotional races in program for the Alpe Adria Sailing Tour, which do not, however, enter into the overall results, the last promotional cup is the «PLAYBOY CUP» with all the Playboy Bunnies on board. Tomorrow, the final leg, which will depart Makarska for the city of Dubrovnik, an 80 mile leg which could possibly change the overall results.

Order of arrival for the 9th leg, Split-Makarska:
1. Citta di Aquileia 2h19.02;
2. Scor Team 2h19.39;
3. Citta di Spalato 2h20.23;
4. Val Nautika 2h20.56;
5. Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia 2h21.23;
6. Clementei 2h21.38;
7. Dubrovnik 2h21.48;
8. Sibenik 2h24.44;
9. Barcolana 2h25.17;
10.Magic Sailing Team 2h26.06;
11. BMW Tomic 2h35.04;
12. Alcatel 2h44.20

Over all result after nine legs:
1. Citta di Spalato 70h23.11;
2. BMW Tomic 70h43.01;
3. Barcolana 71h30.37;
4. Scor Team 72h21.48;
5. Citta di Aquileia 72h48.04;
6. Clementei 73h00.24;
7. Magic Sailing Team 74h22.53;
8. Alcatel 75h20.20;
9. Val Nautika 77h06.28;
10. Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia 77h13.39;
11. Dubrovnik 80h24.14;
12. Sibenik 82h06.22

Vittoria Trojer Manager of Communications Alpe Adria Sailing Tour vtrojer@tin.it, www.alpeadriasailingtour.com, +39 335 709 7030