MEAN MACHINE VALLE ROMANO HOPES FOR A WIN IN THE KING'S CUP

Almost 140 entries will line up on the different start lines of this year's Copa del Rey Camper Audi in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 21 TP 52's will be present, ready to battle it out for the coveted title. Boats such as Mean Machine Valle Romano (2006 Medcup winners) , Caixa Galicia and Artemis will meet in one of the most high profile regattas in the Mediterranean.

Peter de Ridder, skipper on Mean Machine, will be backed up by his loyal and experienced crew, that includes 6 members of America's Cup Team New Zealand.

It's sure to be a spectacular event laid on by the Royal Nautical Club in Palma and the MedCup organization.

Although the Copa del Rey Camper Audi kicks off on Monday, the day's been set aside for official training for the teams int the TP 52 and GP 42 classes. For the TP 52s this is the third event in the Medcup Circuit, with lots of points to be won.

Mean Machine Valle Romano will commence battle on Tuesday, with the team's eyes firmly fixed on the prize, and the points that will bring them the consistency they need to push them to the Breitling Medcup podium.

A good show's guaranteed, with some hot competition in twelve TP 52 races for this 26^th Copa del Rey. The close competition in this extremely competitive class is more evident than ever, and makes for a truly spectacular battle on the seas.

The TP 52 class brings together some of the biggest names in international sailing; Ray Davies, Tom Dodson, Joe Allen, Jono Macbeth, Tony Rae and Stu Bettany (members of the Mean Machine Valle Romano crew and winners of the Louis Vuitton Cup with Team New Zealand), Russell Coutts on Artemis, Paul Cayard on Siemens and John Kostecki on Caixa Galicia are just some of the top level sailors who've got onboard this competitive class.

Consistency will be key when it comes to the performance of the mighty TP 52s. Ray Davies, tactician on Mean Machine Valle Romano explains: “We'll really be fighting hard to win in this regatta. The modifications we made to the boat at the beginning of the season will definitely improve the boat's performance out in the bay of Palma, but fine tuning of a boat like this to win the Medcup is an everyday job. I think that regularity is key, as we proved last year. We have very clear aims here. We want to win the Copa del Rey and push up into the top three of the Breitling Medcup.”

More than 20 people, including the sailing and shore crew of Mean Machine are working right now to improve the team sponsored by the Valle Romano Golf Resort in Estepona's chance of lifting up the prestigious King's Cup.

Peter de Ridder's eager for the competition to get going. “The Copa del Rey is one of the most competitive and exciting events in the Mediterranean, and it's one of the trophies I still have to win. Mean Machine has tasted victory in competitions of the calibre of the Admiral's Cup and the Breitling Medcup 2006, in both the amateur and overall categories, but we have yet to add this regatta to our list of victories.”


For more info about Mean Machine contact to: Helena de la Gándara. Mean Machine PR mail: helena@mean-machine.nl Telephone: +34 609481394 TO DOWNLOAD HI-RES PHOTOS FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE GO TO: http://www.nicomartinez.com/especiales.asp?id_especial Photos: FREE USE FOR EDITORIAL PURPOSES. NICO MARTINEZ/MEAN MACHINE AND SANDERS VAN DER BORCH/MEAN MACHINE For those interested in obtaining interviews, footage by FTP, or more photos regarding Mean Machine team or crew members please contact with us at: helena@mean-machine.nl More news and photos at: www. mean-machine.nl Sponsor website: www.valleromano.net --