QUOTES FROM MEAN MACHINE VALLE ROMANO READY FOR THE PORTUGAL TROPHY



Jules Salter, navigator on Mean Machine Valle Romano on the challenge ahead in Portimao: “Sailing in the Atlantic will be different to the bay in Palma in Portimao you seem to get some shifty offshore winds there as well so it will be a new challenge which I am looking forward to. Hopefully we will get some stronger breezes - these boats are much more fun to sail in proper wind than the tame conditions we get in the Med so often”.

Jono Swain, downwind trimmer on Mean Machine Valle Romano, on his performance and his knowledge of the race course: "We were not happy with our overall performance in the Copa del Rey and obviously want to improve on that". "Palma is mostly a one-way track and you have to be able to hold your lane to get to the correct side;hopefully Portimao will be a bit more of an even venue." "No one has done much sailing there so we will all be trying to learn the course area as quickly as possible.Our team is looking forward to going to a new race-venue".

Ray Davies, tactician on Mean Machine Valle Romano on the conditions ahead in Portimao: “There is a chance that with big waves and wind that we will see gear failures in Portugal so there will be a strong emphasis on the maintenance of the boats, I enjoy going to new events and learning about new geographical effects so it will be challenging in a good way”

Peter de Ridder, owner and skipper of Mean Machine Valle Romano, on what’s ahead in Portimao: I've never been in Portimao, but I can imagine, with prevailing winds from in between West and North (hence from more or less parallel to the shore to offshore breeze direction) there will times that it may be pretty shifty. Furthermore one may expect a seastate with a kind of permanent swell coming from the Ocean.

Ray Davies, calling the tactics on board Mean Machine, on the differences between a TP52 and the 100 footer he sailed on in the Fastnet in terms of comfort: " Racing on a TP52 and a 100 footer doesn't bear many similarities, in terms of the boat itself or comfort. For example, it would take 8 to 10 of us and all our strenghth to move a wet sail up on deck for a sail change, on Leopard 3. Another very nice feature on the boat which I havent experienced before on a race boat was the toasted sandwich maker and the microwave - these items combined produce the best comfort food you can imagine... especally in the middle of the night!.”


For more info about Mean Machine contact to: Helena de la Gándara. Mean Machine PR mail: helena@mean-machine.nl Telephone: +34 609481394