Team Abu Dhabi qualify third at Lake Lugano as Gold Coast clinch pole

Sport360 staff 20:44 04/06/2016
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  • Team Abu Dhabi in action.

    Series-leading Victory Team crew of Arif Saif Al-Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi qualified just behind them.

    However, the pole honours went to the Gold Coast Australia crew of Tom-Barry Cotter and Ross Willaton, with Lady Spain’s Jay Price and Joakhim Kumlin a fine second.

    After a pair of back-to-back races in the UAE in the spring, both won by the Dubai-based Victory Team, the calmer waters of Lake Lugano were a welcome change for the field of 14 boats that lined up for qualifying.

    And Team Abu Dhabi were eager to improve, knowing the importance of achieving at least a podium finish in Lugano after dropping points to their leading challengers in Fujairah and Dubai.

    “Third in the pole position is an excellent result for Faleh and Rashed and puts us in a perfect position to challenge for the victory tomorrow afternoon,” said Salem Al-Romeithi, assistant general manager of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC).

    “It would have been nice to claim pole, but the competition is tough and we will, at least, start ahead of the boat that leads the XCAT World Series.”

    All 14 boats took part in Thursday afternoon’s practice session and Victory Team’s Arif Saif Al-Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi set the fastest lap of 2min 25.480sec after completing 11 laps of the challenging Lake Lugano course.

    Swecat Racing’s Mikael Bengtsson and Erik Stark were second with a lap of 2min 25.933sec and Team Abu Dhabi 5’s Al-Mansoori and Al-Tayer ran for 10 laps and posted the fifth quickest time of 2min 27.066sec.

    The inaugural Lugano Grand Prix take centre stage at 5.30pm GST Sunday.

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